St Patrick’s Tower

The principle of retaining rather than replacing was central to DBFL’s conservation work at St Patrick’s Tower in Dublin’s Liberties.

Non-destructive testing helped establish the extent and condition of the existing structure, giving our engineers the evidence needed to assess and retain historic structural fabric while demonstrating its suitability for the required future design life.
Dating from 1757, the former windmill is an important part of Dublin’s industrial heritage. Its restoration illustrates a key challenge in working with historic buildings: balancing structural performance and future use with the conservation of original fabric.

Now restored as a space for exhibitions, events and community activities, St Patrick’s Tower shows how engineering assessment can help existing buildings take on a new life without losing their historic character.