Office of State Architect (OSPA)

The Office of the State / Principal Architect provides an advisory professional and technical service to other government departments as part of its remit under the policy.

The National Policy on Architecture set out a number of action areas, many of which OPW are the lead which can be categorised as follows:

• Sustainability - Respect our past – shape our future: Prioritise environmentally sensitive buildings and places to achieve sustainable development goals
• Quality - Design and deliver quality buildings and spaces for all.
• Leadership - Advocate for leadership to prioritise quality architectural outcomes.
• Culture - Foster a culture which values architecture as both art and science, serving people, place and planet.

The State Architect is the co-chair of the implementation board charged with delivering on the actions in the Policy.

The OSPA currently has direct responsibility for the following:

• capital works delivery involving projects and programmes in areas such as Brexit, Modular housing for Ukrainian Refugees; the Commemorative Bridge at Island Bridge War Memorial Gardens; Ireland’s Pavilion for the Osaka Expo; Project Opera, Limerick 2030; Visitor Facilities at the Casino in Marino; and Custom House Masterplan
• the development of architectural policy
• Major Projects Section that delivers a programme of high-value, complex, largescale, new build and conservation projects including the Public Service Data Centre; Cultural Projects e.g. National Archives and National Centre for Research and Remembrance; Garda National Building Programme e.g. Portlaoise Garda Divisional HQ; Office Accommodation e.g. Leeson Lane; and Pathfinder Projects e.g. Tom Johnson House.

The following services are also provided through the OSPA:

• a full architectural and project management service in the capital works delivery of projects and programmes of work. The projects involved include the Redevelopment of the National Concert Hall and the Dublin Family Courts at Hammond Lane. The services provided also include an advisory role supporting the delivery of NDP projects both within the OPW and across other departments and agencies
• Civil & Structural Engineering Services provide a design, advisory, surveying and supervisory service on construction related matters to the estate portfolio management (EPM) and flood risk management (FRM) areas of OPW and to other Government Departments and agencies; The engineers in this service operate in a variety of roles, including; engineering designer/adviser & design team member on the various projects. The unit’s project management role covers projects that range in size from providing small advisory reports to involvement in major construction projects.