Project Details
The Grand Canal Harbour building is the only remaining structure of the original Grand Canal Basin. It’s original use was as a warehouse before being converted for use as a Maltings for the Guinness brewery. Work on this canal system began in the 1750s connecting the Midlands to the city, however not soon after, this canal route was quickly superseded by the Grand Canal spur, which brought canal barges directly onto the River Liffey (and this canal remains present day). The old alignment to the basin remained in use until 1960, primarily serving Guinness & Sons Brewery at St James’s Gate until 1971 when the harbour was filled in.
Oldstone Conservation were engaged by WALLS Construction as specialist masonry contractor to complete the masonry works to the Grand Canal Harbour Building which has been preserved and adapted as part of the new residential complex within the Grand Canal Basin.
Works
The main challenge of this building was its size and scale. Prior to the works proceeding the existing limestone flags within the building were recorded, tagged and lifted for later reinstatement. The vegetation on the external facade was treated and removed, all iron fixings were removed and the façade gently steam cleaned. The facade was fully raked out and repointed on three sides whilst the north façade (Grand Canal Place) was only partially repointed. Localised repointing was undertaken to the internal elevations.
There were numerous openings created or reinstated, most of which required structural propping. All existing calp limestone was salvaged and re-used for the many stone repair/replacements required on the external facades. There were a significant number of new structural steel beams installed internally, each of which required a pocket to be formed, granite bearing pads installed and the stonework around each beam reinstated.
One of the final work elements involved reinstating the limestone flagstones to the internal floor to its original layout.
