Tuam Civic Offices and Library

PKA's Tuam library and civic offices stands on a strategically important site within the historic town's architectural conservation area, and in the vicinity of three protected structures - St. Mary's Church of Ireland Cathedral, Temple Jarlath and the Yew Avenue approach to the cathedral.

The new building, commissioned by Galway County Council on foot of a limited framework competition, accommodates the local authority's library and administration services within a town-centre flagship building.

The library comprises an adult library, a children's library and reference areas, as well as associated facilities such as exhibition and lecture spaces.

The local area office accommodates up to 30 staff, providing office and meeting rooms for the council's housing, planning and engineering services, as well as a public counter and a motor-tax office.

The mixed-use development is planned around a double-height atrium that brings natural light into the depth of the plan, and linking the various departments - both visually and functionally.

The design aspires to be responsive to its context, in terms of its built form, appearance and materials; the building's public facades are clad in locally-quarried limestone, with render for the secondary elevations.

The scheme design strives to be a model of environmental sustainability, through the use of state-of-the-art technologies - in daylighting, natural ventilation, and thermal insulation.

Notwithstanding the steeply sloping site, the design is an exemplar of accessible design, exceeding the minimum requirements of the building regulations.

A second phase - planned for the rear of the building - was designed to provide a new civic space surrounded by retail and residential development. Its future is uncertain.

Client: Galway County Council

Value: €5,139,527
Size: 2,042 Sq. m.

Reference: Ms Martina Moloney, Galway County Manager.
Design: 2004
Completion: 2009