01.03.2021
2020 Project review and 2021 Project targets (post 5 of 7): Area Office Programme

Elevation of Rutland Street School, community hub project. Drawing: McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects

Dublin City Council’s Area Offices are the key to coordinating the delivery of services in communities across the City’s five administrative areas. The Area Offices provide a broad range of services including local housing services, communities development projects, street repairs, dealing with litter and graffiti and sports development among others.

This is the fifth of eight posts reviewing progress made in 2020 and outlining our project targets for this year, and sets out the work that City Architects will be carrying out on behalf of the Council’s Area Offices. As well as this programme, City Architects also covers a broad range of work including house extensions for people with disabilities, traveller accommodation and services for Dublin Fire Brigade

An important focus of the Area Office programme is the North East Inner City, where City Architects have been involved in projects that include the redevelopment of a landmark historic building, Rutland Street School (pictured above) as a hub for local community groups, initiatives to address urban blight, such as the renovation of the protected structure at 55 Amiens St, and plans for local public realm improvements, such as at Charleville Mall.

The tobacconist's shop at 55 Amiens St owned by 1916 Proclamation signatory Thomas Clarke, now a protected structure undergoing restoration work.

The tobacconist’s shop at 55 Amiens St owned by 1916 Proclamation signatory Thomas Clarke, now a protected structure undergoing restoration work.

Public realm proposals by City Architects at Charleville Mall in the North East Inner City (image: Robert Bourke Architects)

Public realm proposals by City Architects at Charleville Mall in the North East Inner City (image: Robert Bourke Architects)

COVID 19 has impacted our project programmes, and the resultant delays have varied depending on the project stage i.e. feasibility, design, planning or construction stages. Project programmes on-site have suffered directly due to COVID 19 related shutdowns, and again due to the imposition of revised working procedures to comply with safe working requirements and protective distancing.

The following table lists the Area Office programme projects by name and location, description, team, 2020 targets for reference and our 2021 target.