Bank of Ireland plans €36 million investment in College Green complex
- Largest single investment in College Green in more than 200 years
- Extensive repairs and restoration to buildings housing one of world’s oldest banking halls
- Improved facilities for customers and workspaces for colleagues
- Five-year project subject to planning permission
Friday 11 November 2022 – Bank of Ireland has today announced plans for the largest single investment in its iconic College Green buildings in more than 200 years. As well as extensive repairs, upgrading and restoration work, the planned €36 million investment over five years includes improved facilities for customers and workspaces for colleagues.
The former parliament building, which served as the Bank of Ireland head office until the 1970s, still functions as a busy working branch and also provides office space for colleagues in personal, business and corporate lending, and a wide range of support functions. In 2018, Bank of Ireland added a cultural and heritage centre which is currently home to a National Library of Ireland (NLI) exhibition celebrating the life and work of Nobel Prize laureate Seamus Heaney.
Begun in 1728, College Green was the first permanent two-chamber parliament building in the world and served as the Irish parliament until 1800. Bank of Ireland bought the building in 1803 and opened it to the public as a banking hall in 1808. College Green has served as a bank ever since, making it the one of the oldest banking halls in continuous use anywhere in the world.
Commenting on the planned investment, Susan Russell, Director, Retail Ireland said:
“College Green occupies a very special place in Ireland’s – and Bank of Ireland’s – history and heritage. It’s one of the nation’s most-loved buildings. And, for more than 200 years, it’s been at the heart of how we at Bank of Ireland serve our customers, work as colleagues, and support Dublin’s growth.
“College Green is part of our DNA, and we’re proud of it. We see this investment as a statement of commitment and intent – commitment to our role as custodian of these iconic buildings for future generations, and intent to continue to play a central role in Dublin’s future development.”
The project will involve repairs and upgrades to 280 windows, 45 staircases and 20 kilometres of electrical cabling. College Green also has 54 roofs, 80 roof lights and a combined 2.5 kilometres of roof walkways.
Some of College Green’s windows date from the original 18^th^ century building. Subject to receiving planning permission, these will be removed, restored and reinstalled and two 300 year-old tapestries hanging in the former House of Lords chamber will be cleaned and restored as part of the project. About 1,500 fire alarm devices and emergency lights will also be upgraded as part of the works, which also aim to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by switching as much as possible of its heating systems to run on fully renewable electricity.
Bank of Ireland has engaged the advice of conservation architects and a historic paint specialist for the project, which will be the biggest since it undertook a major repair and cleaning of College Green’s exterior stonework and facades in 1971.
The Bank has digitally mapped the interior of the most historic parts of College Green. The mapping exercise, which involved the use of drones, created a complete three-dimensional virtual record that can be used to guide any future protection and restoration work.
The other main features of the proposed investment announced today include the following:
- The College Green branch will remain open with upgraded facilities for personal and business customers
- The creation of a city-centre agile working hub for c. 50 staff as part of the Bank’s new hybrid working model, and a new space for hosting colleague events.
This project is subject to planning permission and Bank of Ireland intends to submit a detailed application to Dublin City Council later this month. Subject to approval being granted, it will take approximately five years to complete.