Award Winning Grafton Architects Announced as Principal Design Consultants of the €29m Crawford Art Gallery Redevelopment Project

Project Ireland 2040

Through Project Ireland 2040, the Government is investing €460 million in Ireland's National Cultural Institutions to revamp and modernise their facilities both in terms of visitor experience and storage of the national collections.

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin T.D approved last September the business plan for the Crawford Gallery which will involve the investment of some €29m in the total re-development of the building.

As part of this overall plan, Grafton Architects have now been selected as the principal design consultants following a two-stage procurement process. They will be responsible for providing all construction-related technical advice and design services to the Crawford Art Gallery and the OPW in respect of the Project.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“I am delighted to join you here today (23 July) at the official announcement of Grafton Architects as the principal design consultants for the Crawford Art Gallery Redevelopment Project. This is a big public investment by the State in Cork City - which supports Cork’s regeneration into being a forward thinking European Cultural City. It is an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine the Crawford Art Gallery’s potential and create a vibrant new space for art and the public to meet in the heart of the city.

Grafton Architects are an internationally renowned architecture firm with projects spanning from Milford to Milan, and from Lima to London, and I have no doubt that they will bring their experience and skills to bear in interpreting and developing the unique characteristics of the Crawford Art Gallery.”

Minister Catherine Martin said:

“It gives me great pleasure to be here in Cork to announce the awarding of the contract for the next stage in the exciting Crawford Art Gallery redevelopment project to Grafton Architects. I am very pleased that work is progressing so well on this ambitious project.

I would like to thank the Chair and Director and team in the Crawford for their commitment to the redevelopment project and in continuing to deliver a wonderful artistic programme, both here in the Gallery and on-line that is so important for the wellbeing of our citizens, especially during these difficult times.

This has been a very challenging time for artists and I was very pleased to put in place last year an Art Acquisition fund which resulted in the purchase of 422 artworks by 70 artists working in Ireland for the national collection. This scheme has been a huge success and provided vital support to our artists while at the same time enhancing the national collection. It is inspirational to see some of the works purchased under the scheme on display here today (23 July).”

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., said:

“The Office of Public Works has a long history of working with the Crawford Art Gallery and has over the past four years, in particular, been proud to provide the expertise of its Conservation Services to progress the Gallery’s renovation and to facilitate the appointment of the Design Team announced today (23 July). With the transfer of ownership of the Crawford Art Gallery to the OPW concluded at the beginning of the month, I very much look forward to our continued close collaboration and to seeing this ambitious project through to completion.”

Speaking on behalf of the Board and staff, Rose McHugh, Chair of the Crawford Art Gallery, welcomed the appointment of Grafton Architects as lead Designers for this major redevelopment of the Crawford.

Rose McHugh said:

"We are delighted to have Grafton Architects leading the interdisciplinary design team, and we look forward to working with a practice that demonstrates creative vision together with a strong collaborative ethos.

Our progress in this project to date has being based on collaboration. We have strong and productive support from the Office of Public Works (OPW) and from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. We are also grateful to Fáilte Ireland for their support and for their recognition of the Crawford as a significant attraction, and to Cork City Council for their continued support.

Now, we look forward to collaborating with the Grafton team. With their support in this redevelopment, we will ensure that the Crawford can continue to be a place of opportunity for artists and all those interested in art, education, architecture and civic discourse. This next phase of development of the Crawford Art Gallery is a once-in-a-century opportunity to enhance the architectural and artistic life of our city and region, and we look forward to the journey.”

Grafton Architects noted:

“The Grafton Architects Team is honoured to have been chosen, and is looking forward to working with all those involved, to engage with the wonderful and ambitious plans for the present and future of Crawford Art Gallery.

We see the project as a unique opportunity for this highly regarded National cultural institution to consolidate its status as a highly treasured national, international and local institution.”

Grafton Architects

Grafton Architects is an award winning international architecture studio based in Dublin. From this base, the practice has completed many significant and prestigious buildings in Ireland and internationally. Recent projects include the completed university building in Toulouse, France, the new city library on Parnell Square in Dublin and the headquarters building for the ESB on Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin’s Georgian core.

As principal design consultants, Grafton Architects will be responsible for providing all construction-related technical advice and design services to the Crawford Art Gallery and the OPW in respect of the Project.

ENDS

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