Dublin:College Green building will be restored for €36 million by Bank of Ireland

    Photograph: Eric Luke / THE IRISH TIMES Dublin City Centre College Green
 

The Bank of Ireland at College Green, one of Dublin’s most important historic buildings, is to undergo a €36 million restoration, repair, and upgrade programme in what will be the largest investment in the building in more than 200 years.

Built to house the Irish parliament in the 18th century, the building has been home to the bank since 1803 following the Act of Union, making it one of the oldest banking halls in continuous use in the world.

While the building has been cared for and modified throughout time for modern usage, many of its earliest characteristics, such as certain windowpanes that were part of the original structure, have mostly remained unaltered.

Subject to obtaining planning approval, the renovation programme, which is anticipated to last five years, calls for the upgrading and repair of 280 windows, 45 stairs, and 20 km of electrical wiring. Additionally, the building's 54 roofs, 80 roof lights, and 2.5 km of roof walkways will all be under construction.

As part of the project, several windows from the original 18th-century structure will be taken down, restored, and reinstalled. Additionally, two 300-year-old tapestries that were hanging in the previous House of Lords chamber will be cleaned and restored.

The project, which will be the largest since Bank of Ireland performed a significant repair and cleaning of College Green's outside masonry and facades in 1971, "has sought the guidance of conservation architects and a historic paint experts," the business stated.

"The inside of College Green's most historic sections has been digitally mapped by The Bank. Drones were used in the mapping exercise, which resulted in the creation of a complete three-dimensional virtual record that may be used as a reference for any upcoming preservation and restoration work.

The bank stated that its planned investment strengthened its resolve to keeping the College Green branch even though there had been several requests over the years for the building to be restored to State ownership.

"College Green holds a very unique place in the history and tradition of Ireland, as well as the Bank of Ireland. One of the country's most beloved structures is it. According to Susan Russell, the bank's director of Retail Ireland, "And, for more than 200 years, it has been at the core of how we at Bank of Ireland serve our clients, collaborate with one another, and promote Dublin's progress."

We're happy that College Green is a part of our DNA. We see this investment as a declaration of commitment and intent—commitment to our responsibility as the buildings' custodians for future generations and intent to continue playing a key role in Dublin's development, she said.

The bank is anticipated to be open during the project.

The first purpose-built two-chamber parliament building was built in 1728 to designs by Sir Edward Lovett Pearce. In 1785, James Gandon enlarged the structure by adding the curved screen wall and the Corinthian portico facing Trinity College. A western colonnade and tetrastyle portico fronting Foster Place were constructed by Edward Parke between 1792 and 1794.

The bank faces College Green, which Dublin City Council intends to redevelop as a pedestrian and bicycle plaza. Next year, the council intends to submit a new application to An Bord Pleanála for the civic plaza, with construction set to start in 2024.