St Francis Hospice

This project consisted of the development of a new hospice facility and environs adjoining James Connolly Memorial Hospital Campus in Blanchardstown Dublin 15 which encompassed an area of 3 hectares. Access and services to the new Hospice are through the existing Hospital Campus.

This new build hospice was constructed in one phase and includes a Hospice Day Care Centre, a base for Community Palliative Care Team and the building of a 24-bed In-Patient Unit. The total area of the development is 10,250 sqm, the majority being of two-storey construction in a combination of structural load bearing block work, precast flooring and structural steel framing .

DBFL worked closely with James Connolly Memorial Hospitals Services management to ensure that new service routes through the hospice were carefully planned and construction work was carefully sequenced so as to avoid disruption to hospital services and access to the Hospital. DBFL contributed to all risk assessments with regard to infection control and noise nuisance.

The Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) was applied to design a comprehensive sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) solution for the site. Flood management, water quality and amenity provision issues were addressed using a variety of SUDS features in a management train and included bioretention areas, permeable paving, swales, filter strips, filter drains, rainwater harvesting and a large landscaped surface water retention pond.

DBFL worked closely with the Landscape Architect on this project to establish a visually attractive surface water pond which was the central focus of the development whilst ensuring the engineering requirements for the pond were adhered to.