Work on one of the largest ever-civic building projects to be undertaken in Co Limerick is scheduled for completion over the coming weeks, it has been announced.

Limerick County Council confirmed it will commence operating services from the newly constructed Kilmallock Area Office next Thursday (27 August).

The new facility forms part of a €6m project, comprising 1000 square metres of office accommodation, a regional library for the authority, and 540 square metres of facilities for the Court Services of Ireland.

The first court sitting is expected to take place next month while the new library is scheduled to open before the end of 2009.

Limerick Cathaoirleach David Naughton said the new facilities will match the needs of a growing local population.

"The range and extent of the excellent facilities that will be provided in this modern and spacious complex will enable the council to provide a more comprehensive service than ever before," he said.

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Brian Kennedy, Senior Executive Officer of the authority's Special Projects said the main functions of the new Area Office will be to administer work programmes such as road maintenance and improvements, housing and housing grants, and water, customer and planning services to the Kilmallock Electoral Area.

John Parker of ABK Architects noted that the new civic precinct of public buildings was strategically located so as to extend the building line of the main street and reinforce the vista to the site.

"The library and office form a long, linear, single-storey building, which connects with the existing Union Workhouse building.

"A new linear public space is provided together with over 50 public and staff car parking spaces," he added.

The new buildings will incorporate principles of sustainable development, including natural ventilation, reduction in heat loss, sustainable and efficient heat generation.

As well as extensive use of natural day lighting combined with shading devices, and a central energy centre accommodating a biomass wood pellet boiler and plant facilities.

The project is being part funded by Limerick County Council, the Courts Services of Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

The main contractor for the scheme is Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd.

The project design team includes ABK Architects, Davis Langdon PKS Quantity Surveyors, Michael Punch & Partners Consulting Engineers and Homan O’ Brien M&E Consultants.

(PR/KMcA)