In what has been hailed as the beginning of a new era for Drogheda, the Civic Offices in Fair Street in a state-of-the art refurbished and extended building, were officially opened yesterday afternoon, Monday 2nd September 2024.

The redevelopment of Drogheda Civic Offices includede the complete refurbishment and creative re-use of two existing unoccupied protected structures, the Community Services Building and the former Borough Chamber, within the architectural conservation area of Fair Street. The construction of a modern New Link Building sensitively connects these historic structures together to create a contemporary and exemplary civic office complex.

The front of the building has a significant presence on Fair Street and the contemporary intervention has been designed to respect, reveal and enhance the restored features of the protected structures whilst also providing a new welcoming public entrance, gateway and plaza.

The project encompasses approx. 2,000sqm of development and the new facility will house a number of administrative and community spaces for Louth County Council including:

• Renovated Borough District of Drogheda Meeting Chamber
• Large Multi-Use Public Exhibition Space
• New Entrance Foyer with Public Services Counter
• Range of Administrative Offices, Meeting Rooms and Conference Facilities
• Independent Office Facility with Meeting Rooms

Louth County Council ensured a high standard of sustainable development was set for this project to vastly improve on the environmental impact of the current civic buildings on site. This has been delivered through the introduction of a series of measures such as photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and robust energy efficient LED luminaries throughout which all significantly reduce the energy consumption of the complex relative to the existing office accommodation.

Other sustainable measures implemented within the design of the New Link Building include the feature copper mesh glazing which has inherent solar and glare protection properties to reduce overheating of the south-facing public foyer, as well as a sedum grass roof which improves the visual and environmental impact of the building and benefits biodiversity within the urban environment.

The revitalised public plaza area along the front of the new and renovated buildings provides a fantastic new public amenity space which benefits from the introduction of greenery and soft landscaping that grounds the development within Fair Street.

Cllr. Kevin Callan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council officially opened the building, saying: “These offices are a fantastic facility for the people of Drogheda and the South Louth area and will greatly facilitate expansion of the provision of services and accommodation for council staff, elected representatives.

"It is an extremely impressive building for visitors, the restored council chamber, exhibition space and public services facilities will breathe life into these buildings and this part of the town. I commend the council and all those involved in preserving this piece of Drogheda’s built heritage.”

Joan Martin, Chief Executive, Louth County Council, said: “It is a very proud day for Louth County Council. The redevelopment and extension to the Drogheda Civic Offices has been a strategic objective of Louth County Council for many years and the official opening is a landmark achievement.

“We are delighted to see the council chamber so beautifully restored following the damage caused by fire in 2009, and facilities for the public greatly improved with two currently unoccupied buildings sensitively and sustainably brought back to use. The project has captured the unique heritage of the area and will link in with the URDF Westgate Vision Redevelopment works to transform this historic part of Drogheda.”

The development has been designed and delivered to the highest quality. Externally the feature copper glazed façade, timber sash windows and granite stone paving create an impressive frontage to the community, whilst internally the use of polished concrete, oak timber linings and bespoke joinery for the public seating areas, public services counter and meeting chamber creates a high quality and durable environment.

Louth County Council appointed a multi-disciplinary team from Building Design Partnership (Architects, Civil and Structural Engineers, Building Services Engineers and Landscape) who led the design and delivery of this project, with conservation services provided by Alastair Coey Conservation Architects. The project was constructed on site by Townlink Construction as contractor.