No. 70 Parnell St. (Conway’s Pub), Dublin 1

Late Victorian building with remnants left over from the late Georgian period. It is listed as a protected structure. The main building consists of a basement with four storeys. There are two extensions to the rear. There is the Moore Lane extension with a basement and two storeys and there is the rear yard extension with no basement and two storeys.

The structure is of solid brick wall construction and timber floors. This was altered significantly at ground level where most of the walls were removed to create an open plan space. The walls above were supported off solid and built-up timber beams which are in turn supported off cast iron hollow columns, timber posts, concrete block piers and built up mild steel plate columns.

Due to the main walls been removed at ground level it is likely that the structure relies to some extent on the adjacent buildings for its stability. T. J. O’Connor & Associates are currently appraising the structure which involves an historic desk top study, opening up works, on-site inspections, specialist timber surveys and plumb line surveys.

Some of the investigations carried out as part of the desk top study included;

• Numerous visits to public archives, libraries and building control in search of old drawings, building construction books relating to the Georgian and Victorian periods, archive news articles, etc.
• Discussions were held with conservation architects who had visited the building
• Discussions with engineers and architects (mostly retired) that had been involved in past alterations to the building
• Discussions with the Guinness Store House records department
• Obtaining of historical maps

The on-site inspections and surveys revealed problems such as leaning walls, parapets and chimney stacks as well as significant deflections in floors and stairs due to decay, insect attack, overloading and poor design. We produced a final report outlining our recommendations for strengthening work as well as further investigations that should be carried out during the future refurbishment works.

Start/End Date:

July 2008 – Ongoing

Contract Value:

N/A

Role:

Structural & Civil Engineers

Key Structural Features:

• Highly complex and altered structure
• Assessment of the structural form and condition of the existing structure and ensure the stability is not affected by the adjacent significant works

Find out more about our Structural Engineering services.