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This is what the new Central Plaza in Dublin could look like

The plan includes restaurants, shops and a rooftop venue with 360° views of the city.

View 07-DuskAerial An aerial view of the proposed design Hines and Peterson Hines and Peterson

A PLANNING APPLICATION for the development of the former Central Bank headquarters in Dublin will be submitted to Dublin City Council this week.

Designed by award-winning architect Sam Stephenson in the 1970s, the building was acquired by Hines and Peterson earlier this year, following the Central Bank’s relocation to new premises on North Wall Quay.

The plan for the building and surrounding area would see the creation of a mixed-use scheme known as Central Plaza with shops, restaurants and cafés at street and basement level, as well as the creation of a “two-storey rooftop hospitality destination and viewing area”.

‘Vibrant public space’

Commenting on the planning application, Brian Moran, Senior Managing Director of Hines Ireland, said the plan will “reinvigorate this iconic city centre building located in the heart of our capital”.

“Another key aspect of the proposal is the enhancement of the existing plaza that surrounds the building. Upon completion of the redevelopment works, the area will re-open to the public and, with the removal of the railings installed in 1998, the plaza will become a larger and even more vibrant public space,” Moran added.

The proposal includes the creation of a new 20,000 sq ft rooftop venue with 360° views of the Dublin skyline within the building’s existing roof space. This would provide a viewing area and hospitality space for conferences, events and exhibitions.

The application is part of an overall plan that includes the adjoining properties 6-8 College Green, 9 College Green, and both the Annex and Commercial buildings on Dame Street.

Central Plaza has the potential to accommodate 1,000 office workers and create more than 300 full and part-time retail and hospitality jobs upon completion, Hines and Peterson said.

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58 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:01 AM

    Essentially a scrubbed up version of the old Centran Bank HQ…………..with lights.

    468
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    Mute Joseph Bloggs
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:47 AM

    @Emmet Dillane: yep. It looks exactly the same…. I wonder will goths start to hang there again and have stare-offs with skaters?

    190
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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:03 AM

    @Joseph Bloggs:
    Sandblasters in the vanguard of Irish architectural design.

    39
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    Mute Michael Geraghty
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:11 AM

    @Emmet Dillane: I like it. In fact I always liked the building

    30
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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Aug 9th 2017, 12:56 PM

    @Michael Geraghty:
    Has a certain je ne sais quoi without a doubt.

    7
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    Mute Sean
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    Aug 9th 2017, 7:04 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: what’s not on the fancy drawing? Some LUAS boxes perhaps?

    3
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    Mute Kieran Stafford
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:37 AM

    What is this, a central plaza for ants!!!!!

    201
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    Mute Jon Snow
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @Kieran Stafford: Probably should make it bigger. At least three times that size should do it.

    56
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    Mute Government Sachs
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:03 AM

    Wow, new LED lights.

    161
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:00 AM

    I like it.

    105
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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:07 AM

    It looks nice, but some bozo will object to it as per usual

    107
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    Mute Ryan Boyle
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:04 AM

    @Tony Stack: Ming Flanagan objects – says it will cost 1 BILLION jobs. Clown.

    https://twitter.com/lukeming/status/895214084915777536

    14
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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:23 AM

    @Ryan Boyle: Not one for the sarcasm eh?

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    Mute Brian Fitzgerald
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    Aug 9th 2017, 12:55 PM

    @Ryan Boyle: Ah Jesus Ryan, come on man.

    7
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    Mute cormac o neill
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:00 AM

    Stick the junkie injecting room in there as well

    121
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    Mute Jamie
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:03 AM

    @cormac o neill: no one sets out to be a junkie many of them were affected by something in their childhood or throughout life and turn to self medicating.It could easily happen to a friend or member of your family and I hope it never does

    68
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    Mute Jamie
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:04 AM

    @cormac o neill: didn’t realise you were a troll

    22
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    Mute cormac o neill
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:00 AM

    And the strip clubs

    41
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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:27 AM

    I hear they are insisting on only one car on Dame Street at a time, they have even drawn it into the sketch……..

    37
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    Mute Miriam
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:59 AM

    It looks exactly the same, but with fancy lights….

    28
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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:25 PM

    @Miriam: And the roof has been turned into a 300 seater restaurant

    2
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    Mute Carl Nolan
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:27 AM

    Can we please not call it “Central Plaza”. Cringe.

    28
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    Mute cormac o neill
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:00 AM

    And the abortion clinic

    37
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    Mute No To Forced Births!
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:04 AM

    @cormac o neill: Your sister in trouble again ?

    90
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    Mute cormac o neill
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:05 AM

    @No To Forced Births!: Na…How are things with you anyway

    20
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    Mute No To Forced Births!
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:09 AM

    @cormac o neill: All good.

    15
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    Mute cormac o neill
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:11 AM

    @No To Forced Births!: Shit…I was hoping you were living a sad miserable life…Well here,s hoping for next year

    18
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    Mute No To Forced Births!
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:13 AM

    @cormac o neill: Stop wishing your life on me..

    59
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    Mute Micheal Anthony Moran
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:29 AM

    Thank god they are removing those ghastly railings it was a disgrace that they were allowed to install them in the first place.

    19
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    Mute Rob Hunt
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:22 AM

    That actually looks alright. Nice to see something that isn’t just a wall of glass.

    12
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    Mute Dave Bolger
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:53 AM

    I’m sure An Taisce will be along any minute now to object

    12
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    Mute Mark Boyle
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    Aug 9th 2017, 12:24 PM

    @Dave Bolger: An Taisce complaint box. Please tick one:
    * ruin the symmetry of the building (which they hate anyway)
    * impose a mass and bulk which is out of character for the rest of the street
    * pose a massive fire risk
    * cast shadow on a leaf on Dame St
    * be visible from the Four Courts
    * be a building

    34
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    Mute Gary
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    Aug 9th 2017, 1:07 PM

    @Mark Boyle: Don’t forget the “it can’t be higher than 4 stories” box also.

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    Mute Shauna McDermott
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    Aug 9th 2017, 1:32 PM

    @Mark Boyle: Thr good folk of An Taisce would be better off I think, putting all their energies into inventing a time machine to take them all back to 1750, when the Georgian era was at its peak.

    5
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    Mute Paul Maher
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    Aug 9th 2017, 1:35 PM

    Will someone please take this piece of architectural scrap down and restore this beautiful street to its former glory. The Starbucks on the corner of Foster Place should also be scrapped. Surely the plans for the original buildings are in archive somewhere???? Sam Stephenson … environmental terrorist!

    12
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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    Aug 9th 2017, 2:23 PM

    @Paul Maher: Architecture is going to remain bland and uninteresting in general until we get 3D printed buildings and facades that allow for ornate and sculptural design. There are very few beautiful buildings being created nowadays, just show off buildings that don’t relate to humans.

    9
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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Aug 9th 2017, 1:11 PM

    Dublin city centre needs a network of public toilets and bath houses. Dream shopping malls and luxury penthouse hotels are irrelevant to the public’s basic needs.

    10
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    Mute Arnie
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    Aug 10th 2017, 1:34 AM

    @Garreth Byrne: Why? You need somewhere private to spend time with your boyfriend?

    2
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Aug 9th 2017, 12:04 PM

    Knock the monstrosity down.

    An insult to the architectural heritage of Dublin, time to make amends.

    10
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    Mute Sebastian Thommen
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    Aug 9th 2017, 12:02 PM

    Disaster, all the LED’s are draining the citys’ power.

    7
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    Mute Greg Blake
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:50 AM

    Ha ha, same again. Same architect? The brother of Daddy Brady Bunch maybe, one design for every application.

    7
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    Mute Eric
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:52 AM

    I take it Sam Stephenson didn’t win his award for the Central Bank…

    6
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    Mute Anton Dec
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:10 AM

    @Eric:
    I’m pretty sure he won it for the monstrosity on Fitzwilliam Street. Those were the days when it was possible to demolish 17 intact Georgian houses and replace them with your own vision for the future.
    Stephenson was a brutalist. He put no value in the past. Interesting view actually. However the fact that he was allowed to destroy so much of Dublin based on his own vision probably had a lot more to do with his political connections than anything else.

    27
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    Mute Starburst
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    Aug 9th 2017, 11:36 AM

    Do we need more skyline views of the city? Is there not one in Croker, Smithfield and the Guinness storehouse gravity bar?

    4
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    Mute Shauna McDermott
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    Aug 9th 2017, 1:33 PM

    @Starburst: None of them are in the city centre though

    7
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    Mute Amy Wallis
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:40 AM

    Looks exactly the same but with lights and still uttterly boring. Boring and grey. Just like before.

    7
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    Mute Eric
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:06 AM

    Looks totally unrealistic to me!

    10
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:23 AM

    Removing the railings?
    They need to designate an area for vomit and urine.

    40
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    Mute Gary
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:53 AM

    @John Mulligan: You should use the toilet.

    23
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    Mute Robin Graham
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:13 PM

    I really like it. The Central bank building is one of my favourite buildings in Dublin. It has a unique structure where the floors cantilever out from the central core – they were constructed from the top down. I like the way it pokes above the neighbouring buildings too. Personally I would have preferred the proposal to set back the new ground and first floor restaurants to the original core structure line to emphasise the structure – by bringing them out to the main building line it detracts from one of the buildings distinctive features.

    2
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    Mute Frank Vaughan
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    Aug 9th 2017, 4:10 PM

    Looks more or less the same with some trees and lights added sure I could have designed that myself for half the cost no doubt!

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    Aug 10th 2017, 1:47 AM

    So give it a wash and take away places for teenagers to skateboard (will be replaced by junkies instead) whats the cost again. Could do it for 500 quid with a powerhose..

    1
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:37 PM

    Hey, where has the marble seating gone? Is that the idea, to remove all public seating and force people into cafés? Were they never students?

    1
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