The following is a selection of some of the projects at various stages of planning, design and construction in which the OPW’s Major Projects unit is currently involved.
The General Post Office, Dublin
As outlined in the National Development Plan, the OPW is engaging with the Department of Culture, Communications & Sport in relation to the transfer of legal ownership of the General Post Office (GPO) to the OPW. A Steering Group has been established, which in the first instance will focus on the legal transfers of the properties to OPW.
The OPW is in the process of developing a masterplan for the site which seeks to identify the means to best enhance the building and its relationship with the surrounding streets, address its most urgent and pressing deficiencies, and improve its functionality. This will include the development of a number of options for the future use of the wider complex. The OPW will be consulting with relevant stakeholders when these plans are developed further.
It is envisaged that the future GPO can be a mixed use precinct incorporating some or all of the following:
- Public Realm enhancements at street level to encourage public use of the complex.
- Retention of a post office function
- Re-imagined retail components along Henry Street and in the GPO Arcade
- A significant cultural use (s)
- High quality office element on the upper floors to provide critical accommodation to meet ongoing and additional Government requirements.
The OPW will be consulting with relevant stakeholders when these plans are developed further.
Restoration and Refurbishment of 52 St Stephens Green.
The property at 52 St Stephen’s Green is an office building that comprises a traditional Georgian house, a protected structure, which fronts onto St Stephen’s Green, with a 1970s office building that adjoins it to the rear.
In addition, a link building constructed in the 1990s connects 52 St Stephen’s Green with adjacent premises at Nos. 50-51, which currently serves as the Department of Justice headquarters.
The completed project will provide fit-for purpose, value for money, and energy efficient accommodation for the Department of Justice at 52 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 in one building complex to facilitate the consolidation of Department of Justice staff at its central Dublin headquarters building, in line with Government requirements and the Department’s own transformation programme. The building will also provide accommodation for the Department of Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Construction commenced in Q2 2024 while end-user occupation is anticipated to be in Q2/3 2026.
National Centre for Research & Remembrance, Sean MacDermott St., Dublin
The National Centre for Research and Remembrance is proposed to occupy the former buildings and lands of the Monastery of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge and the attached Magdalene Laundry site, at Sean MacDermott Street, Dublin 1.
This project is a response to Action 7 and 15 of the ‘Action Plan for Survivors and Residents of Mother and Baby and County Homes’. The Government approved the high level proposals on the 29th of March 2022 and established a Steering Group to carry the project forward.
The National Centre will stand as a National Memorial to honour all those who were resident in Mother and Baby Homes, Industrial Schools, Reformatories, Magdalen Laundries and related institutions.
Contributing to the social and economic development of Dublin’s North East Inner City, the site will also encompass social housing and local community facilities, and an educational and early learning facility, which will be led by the Department of Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Public Services Data Centre – Backweston
This project involves the construction of a new build public sector data centre at Backweston Campus, Ballymadeer Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
The completed project will provide a quality, secure, energy efficient Data Centre built and owned by Government. It will have capacity for 600 racks and 3.6 megawatts of power, which should be sufficient for the short to medium term requirements of the Government.
The construction of the Data Centre commenced 26th March 2023 The project is to be delivered in one phase. Substantial Completion is expected in Q3 2025.
Custom House Redevelopment
The Custom House in Dublin is an iconic, historic building in the national capital and a key landmark along Dublin's city quay. However, it has experienced very little capital investment since the late 1980s/early 1990s, and as a result faces a number of pressing infrastructural issues.
The building struggles to meet the demands that arise from its principal function as a key piece of infrastructure for Government administration, in terms of a need for (a) increased office accommodation and (b) accommodation layouts that are more suited to modern Government administration needs.
The Office of the State Architects Office has developed a Masterplan and delivery strategy for the project and has completed a Strategic Assessment Report and is in the final stages of the Business Case assessment. The OPW is not funded for this project and the Department of Housing Local Governance and Heritage will be the Approving Authority.
Aquatic House Complex, Botanic Gardens, Dublin
The Aquatic House Complex, located in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, comprises three connected glasshouses: the Cactus House (1890), Waterlily House, a protected structure (1854) and Fern House (1966). The Complex has been closed to the public due to its poor structural condition and health and safety concerns in respect to both public and staff using the building. The OPW undertook stabilisation works in 2020 to ensure the structural stability and preservation of historic fabric. These works will act as enabling works to the future restoration of the glasshouses.
Following on from this the OPW have developed a design with proposed works comprising the full restoration and redevelopment of the Aquatic House Complex.
The project will provide a comprehensively designed, high-quality, sustainable series of buildings which meets the needs of the National Botanic Gardens’ staff and visitors.
Opera Square, Limerick
The Opera site development is one of the key strategic projects being developed under the public sector-led investment in Limerick 2030: Spatial and Economic Plan. This is the spatial and economic development plan focused on Limerick City Centre.
In April 2025, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to proceed with the development of a 14-storey office building as part of the wider urban regeneration project for the city centre.
The four-acre Opera site will include commercial buildings, apartment living space, a new central library, a hotel, retail space and a public plaza.
The OPW is working in partnership with the Opera Centre project leads, ‘Limerick Twenty Thirty’ to develop the new Government offices at the site.
‘Limerick Twenty Thirty’ is a company established by Limerick city and county councils to develop strategic sites in Limerick city and county.
Once complete, the building will accommodate approximately 900 workspaces and up to 1,500 public servants in a hybrid working environment.
Garda Siochana Investment Programme – Major Projects
An Garda Síochána (AGS), the OPW and Department of Justice (DoJ) have worked to establish a new Garda Capital Estates programme to assist in meeting the accommodation needs of AGS over the coming years. The plan was revised to fit within the NDP capital funding provided from 2022 to 2030. This revised programme includes a variety of site acquisitions, building and construction projects including building refurbishment, new Garda stations of varying sizes, custody suites and a Property and Exhibit Management Store (PEMS). These works are transformative in nature and are vital in meeting the operational needs of AGS and ensuring the provision if fit for purpose accommodation. Key projects include:
Newcastle West District Garda HQ (video of progress available) –
Project involves the demolition of the previous Garda station and the construction of a new District Garda HQ in Newcastle West, Co Limerick. The new District Garda HQ which will consist of a new three-storey building of 1,151 square metres on a site of circa 0.1651 ha. It will replace the old Garda station on the site and will provide the operational, functional and accommodation requirements demanded by the new Garda operation model. The design proposal for the new station is of a three storey brick building located to the front of the site maximising the secure yard to the rear. Works commenced in Q4, 2024.
Portlaoise Divisional HQ -
The Portlaoise Garda Station project will meet all the operational, functional and accommodation requirements demanded by the new Garda operation model.
To accommodate all the brief requirements the following developments are required; refurbishment of the existing building within a historic military fort; a two- and three-storey extension and a significant new building on the rear site.
The construction of a building at the rear of Portlaoise Garda Station is integral to the effective redevelopment of Portlaoise Garda station to meet Garda requirements and has increased the total size of accommodation to be provided by 30%.
District HQ for Clonmel GS -
The project includes a two- three- and four-storey building and a single storey ancillary building forming a secure courtyard on a site within the former Kickham Military Barracks. The project faces onto a new public plaza that is part of the proposed Kickham barrack masterplan and shares a boundary with the OPW-owned former exchange building.
Regional HQ for Macroom GS –
This project is provided in a two- three- and four-storey building around a secure courtyard with adjacent secure car parking on a greenfield site. The site and proposed access road is shared with Cork County Council which has built a new fire station adjacent to the GS site.
The Commemorative Bridge for the War Memorial Gardens in Island Bridge
The Commemorative Bridge project originated as a competition that was organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and was promoted by the Office of Public Works. The competition was a two stage competition for the architectural and structural design for a bridge over the river Liffey. It will provide:
- A new pedestrian and cycle bridge which will span the River Liffey and connect to an existing cycle way running along Chapelizod Road; the works will comprise of a lightweight arched stainless steel bridge to cross over the River Liffey with an uninterrupted span of 58 metres and a structural depth of approximately 0.35 metres.
- A new ceremonial entrance plaza with stainless steel gates, granite wall and granite paved set-down area.
- An open plaza linking the entrance and bridge, to be located at the National Wat Memorial Gardens and at lands to north of River Liffey, Chapelizod Road, Islandbridge, Dublin 8.
- Minimal adverse environmental impact
The proposed development will maximise the potential of the existing site and structures to provide an enhanced visitor experience with the Irish National War Memorial Gardens setting, which will be cultural attraction, desirable infrastructure and achieve value for money.