Case Study

Pearse’s Cottage Visitor Centre

OVERVIEW

New visitor centre located adjacent to Pearse’s Cottage, Rosmuc (National Monument). Building was completed as part of the 1916 commemoration capital works projects.

Excavation and removal of peat overburden, Breaking & blasting of rock, Vibration monitoring adjacent to National Monument, Construction of new Visitor Centre.

Ryan Hanley provided all Civil & Structural Engineering design services for this project. In addition to providing works requirements documentation, Ryan Hanley provided input during the early stages of the project in relation to the wastewater system and also in relation to the excavation & disposal of peat.

Project Details

Pearse’s Cottage Visitor Centre located adjacent to Pearse’s Cottage, Rosmuc (National Monument). The building was completed as part of the 1916 commemoration capital works projects.

The cottage was a summer retreat for the writer and poet Patrick Pearse for 12 years, from 1903 to 1915. It was here that he drew inspiration for his poems and short stories. It also served as a summer school for students from his bilingual school in Dublin, St Enda’s.  The overall scheme comprised the development of a visitor and interpretative centre and associated facilities adjacent to Pearse's Cottage close to Rosmuc. The structure itself is a single story building incorporating reception, exhibition, educational, meeting and café areas as well as ancillary facilities.

Ryan Hanley were employed by the Architects as part of a multi-disciplinary design team. Ryan Hanley’s role was to provide civil & structural engineering design and act as ancillary certifiers.

The works were completed using the Public Works Contract.

Works undertaken by the Ryan Hanley team included:

  • Review of existing site investigation, scope and procure additional SI;
  • Structural design of foundations and building elements;
  • Design of timber pavilion;
  • Design of site drainage, including site attenuation;
  • Design of wastewater disposal facilities;
  • Design of car-parking areas;
  • Steelwork design and review of steel fabrication drawings;
  • Preparation of contract documents for advance works contract
  • Site inspections during construction, including inspections for BCAR services;
  • Review of proposals from contractor during construction stage.

Works involved:

Excavation and removal of peat overburden, Breaking & blasting of rock, Vibration monitoring adjacent to National Monument, Construction of new Visitor Centre