Construction & Property News January 2010

Grand CanalSquare has always been char­ acterisedbyitscolourful landscaping -the red poles jutting out of the ground, the office building with its chequered facade and, of course, the signature'red carpet'leading up to an invisible but much anticipated building. Now that building has finally arrived. As you turn the corner into the square your eye will be drawn to the dramatic and complex build­ ingenvelopeofthe new Grand Canal Dock Theatre. The RussianState Ballet'sperformanceof Swan Lakeon18 March will be the open­ ingperformanceat the 2,100-seat theatre, which is larger than the 800-seat Wexford Opera Houseand twice the size of the Gaiety Theatre. The new venue is five storeys high with bars and corporate hospitality areas on all five floors and dressing rooms and other backstage facilities running over four floors. John Sisk & Son were employed by Char­ teredLandasthe management contractor on the theatre and commercial buildings. Sisk regional directorDec/an Kelly has been on site for the past two years of the three-year build programme. As that programme reached practical completion on 22 December last, he spoke to Maev Martin about delivering this unique project.