Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom Co. Limerick

DBFL are pleased to see the completion of Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom Co. Limerick. The new 1000 pupil secondary school development on the 22-acre site consists of a multi wing two-storey building of almost 10,000m² which includes various classrooms, a sports hall and a general purpose area.  Pitches provide for a variety of field sports with additional recreation and play areas on campus. The project also included the design and construction of a new 13m span vehicular access bridge connecting to an access road completed by Limerick County Council.  DBFL provided civil, structural and transportation engineering services on the project from feasibility stage through planning submissions, detailed design, tender, construction, and handover.

For the main building structure MMD Construction proposed a change from the tender stage design to a precast concrete solution for programme reasons. This was supplied by O Reilly Concrete and included precast walls, columns, beams, and floors. The General Purpose Area comprised a double height space with a complex roof and façade structure which was designed in structural steelwork, as was the roof to the sports hall and the school generally.

The bridge structure comprised of prestressed concrete beams supported on piled reinforced concrete bridge abutments. Our Civil Structures team carried out preliminary and detailed design of the bridge, reviewed specialist submittals for barriers and railings, oversaw construction and collaborated with the contractor to introduce some value engineering measures.

In terms of civil engineering and infrastructure, DBFL carried out design of all elements including foul, surface water and water supply as well as road and pavement designs.

DBFL would like to thank the LCETB, design team members Healy Partners Architects, JODA Engineering, AECOM & main contractor MMD Construction for their cooperation throughout the project.