Client: Irish Courts Service / PJ Hegarty
The Criminal Courts of Justice is a landmark courts facility building located at the junction of Parkgate Street and Infirmary Road in Dublin city. The site is at the south western corner of the Phoenix Park and has an area of 0.95 hectares. The building comprises an area of some 25,000 m2 and is 11 storeys high, including basement car parking containing 22 courtrooms with associated areas and offices.
The building is circular with a central public space (Great Hall) having a 40m diameter. The double-height courtrooms are stacked in groups of 3 around the Great Hall. Access to the courtrooms is provided by large cantilevering walkways projecting into the Great Hall.
Due to the variable nature of the ground conditions the building is founded on pile. A continuous flight augered pile was chosen as the piling solution.
The building superstructure is constructed in reinforced concrete. Walls, core areas and the access cantilevers are in insitu concrete while the large span floors for the courtroom are in precast pre-stressed concrete. The roof of the Great Hall is a structural steel framework providing North lighting into the Great Hall.
Internal glass-surfaced bridges and viewing lifts provide access within the building.
DBFL were awarded the ACEI (Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland) President’s Award (Highly Commended) for Excellence in the Structural Design of The Criminal Courts of Justice Building.
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