Client: Hines
DBFL provided Civil, Structural and Transportation engineering services on this landmark commercial development.
Two Grand Parade is a 9,600 sqm commercial development for Hines which includes six storeys of new prime office space over a single level basement. The new steel framed building is linked via a glass atrium to the iconic 8- storey former headquarters of PJ Carrolls overlooking the Charlemont Luas Stop and the Grand Canal in Dublin.
This 60-year-old protected structure was also fully refurbished up to modern office standards and structural works included specialist input to enhance the fire rating and durability of the concrete to extend the buildings design life.
Allowance was made for the construction of a future Metro station beneath the building which involved incorporating a 2.4m deep reinforced concrete slab as part of the foundation structure spanning 22m between piled walls extending 30m into the bedrock. The metro station will be constructed by excavating the ground beneath this slab between the piled walls at a future date while the spanning slab supports the 6-storey building overhead.
The LUAS tram line and Charlemont LUAS stop are on a 6m high elevated embankment parallel to the site boundary. The new basement structure was built alongside this embankment requiring an intricate arrangement of secant piled walls and ground anchors to facilitate construction. Strict monitoring procedures were put in place to measure the performance of the embankment during the works while the LUAS system remained live throughout the construction phase.
The scheme targets ratings of LEED Platinum and BER A3.
Green roofs were utilised as a SUDS measure to control rainwater flows into the public system in the event of storms.
Project Director
