Design on the surrounding hoarding of the site in January 2011
English: Updated: January 2011: At this stage there is no possibility that this project will proceed. Update: 22nd. February 2010 The U2 Tower was a proposed landmark skyscraper to be constructed in Dublin. The site was in the South Docklands (SODO) campshires, at the corner of Sir John Rogerson's Quay and Britain Quay, by the confluence of the River Liffey, the River Dodder, and the Grand Canal. The design announced on 12 October 2007 was by Foster and Partners. Its height had been reported at 120 metres, "well over 120 metres", and 180 metres, any of which would have made it the tallest building on the island of Ireland. The building would have been an apartment building, with a recording studio owned by the rock group U2 in a "pod" at the top. Construction was to begin in 2008 and end in 2011, at a cost of €200m. In October 2008, the project was suspended indefinitely because of the economic downturn. In 2010 the economic outlook is very bleak so it is unlikely that this project will ever go ahead. Update: 12th, October 2007: This design has been rejected in favour of a taller building - more info is included below. This is a photograph of a poster on a hoarding around a building site in Dublin. The poster mentions the new U2 recording studio which has yet to be built. I will add more U2 material as soon as possible. UPDATE Docklands Authority announces provisional preferred bidder for U2 Tower The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has announced that Geranger Ltd, a consortium consisting of Ballymore Properties, Patrick McKillen and August Partners (U2 Band members and management) has been selected as the provisional preferred bidder to design, construct and finance the U2 Tower and Britain Quay Building, one of the most significant architectural projects to be delivered in the regeneration of the Docklands area. The consortium's architects, Foster + Partners, have proposed a stunning design for the 120 metre high tower and adjacent Britain Quay site uniquely situated at the confluence of three waterways, the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal. The inspirational building will include a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base; and hotel, retail, and residential accommodation including 20% social and affordable housing. At the top of the Tower, the U2 studio is included as a suspended egg shape pod. Paul Maloney, Chief Executive of the Docklands Authority, said that, while all the submissions received were of an extremely high quality and it was a difficult decision to make, Geranger Ltd had been selected because its submission exceeded the expectations of the brief with the emergence of a breathtaking design uniquely suited to this prominent Docklands site. "We are delighted to have achieved our ambition of realising an inspirational landmark design, while at the same time maximising public usage and access. This design will be a very special building for Docklands and Dublin City while integrating the Britain Quay and U2 Tower buildings in a distinct and coherent fashion on the waterfront. It will also provide visitors the opportunity to experience spectacular views across Dublin city and bay, and for the community offers significant social and affordable housing potential". The announcement of preferred bidder status for Geranger Ltd follows a rigorous EU tendering process where submissions from four short-listed consortia were considered. John McLaughlin, Director of Architecture for the Docklands Authority said,: "We look forward to working with Geranger Ltd whose members bring a wealth of expertise in delivering tall buildings across the UK and further afield. This consortium working with Norman Foster will deliver an enduring landmark for Dublin". The Docklands Authority appointed three architectural consultants -.Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Shih-Fu Peng of Heneghan Peng Architects and Michael O'Doherty, former principal architect at the OPW - to evaluate the architectural and design elements of the proposals. Since the original design competition, the parameters of the development changed. The original design concept was for a 60 metre tower on a smaller footprint, but following the recent planning amendment for the Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme area, the tower was increased to 120 metres in height, with an adjoining multi-storey building moving from what was considered a local landmark to a city landmark. Developers were required to submit bids to develop the U2 Tower architectural concept designed by Burdon Craig Dunne Henry (bcdh) and were also offered the option of submitting a variant design for both the U2 Tower and the Britain Quay building. Two consortia opted to submit a variant design alongside a proposal for the original. In total, six schemes were assessed across criteria of architecture and design, project execution plans and financial offers. . Taking all those considerations into account the Docklands Authority, advised by project consultants, selected the Foster design as the most appropriate. It is estimated that the U2 Tower development will cost over €200 million to design and build. Construction is expected to start in 2008 and be completed by 2011. Solicitors, A&L Goodbody provided legal advice throughout the tender process. The U2 Tower is located in the Grand Canal Dock area, where the Docklands Authority is working with some of the world's leading architects on projects such as the Studio Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre, the Manuel Aires Mateus designed five star hotel, and the recently opened Martha Schwartz designed Grand Canal Square. For further information and/or images, please contact: Loretta Lambkin, Docklands Authority, 01 818 3300, llambkin@dublindocklands.ie Sheila Gahan, WHPR, 01 669 0030 or 087 234 2409 sheila.gahan@ogilvy.com Editors Notes Norman Foster - Biog Note Norman Foster was born in Manchester in 1935. After graduating from Manchester University School of Architecture and City Planning in 1961 he won a Henry Fellowship to Yale University, where he gained a Master's Degree in Architecture. He is the founder and chairman of Foster + Partners. Founded in London in 1967, it is now a worldwide practice, with project offices in more than twenty countries. Over the past four decades the company has been responsible for a strikingly wide range of work, from urban masterplans, public infrastructure, airports, civic and cultural buildings, offices and workplaces to private houses and product design. Since its inception, the practice has received 440 awards and citations for excellence and has won more than 70 international and national competitions. Current and recent work includes the largest construction project in the world, Beijing Airport, Millau Viaduct in France, the Swiss Re tower and the Great Court at the British Museum in London, an entire University Campus for Petronas in Malaysia and the Hearst Headquarters tower in New York. He became the 21st Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1999 and was awarded the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture in 2002. He has been awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Architecture (1994), the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture (1983), and the Gold Medal of the French Academy of Architecture (1991). In 1990 he was granted a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours, and in 1999 was honoured with a Life Peerage, becoming Lord Foster of Thames Bank. Architectural Assessment Team - Biog Notes Chris Wilkinson (OBE, Dip Arch RIBA RCSD) Sir Chris Wilkinson founded Wilkinson Eyre Architects in 1983 together with Jim Eyre. Chris was elected to the Royal Academy in April 2006. His firm cemented itself in the top league of architects when it won the Stirling Prize for the best building designed by a British Architect in 2001 for the Magma Science Centre outside Rotherham. Wilkinson Eyre also won the Stirling Prize in 2002, for the Gateshead Millennium Bridge on the River Tyne. Wilkinson Eyre is the only practice to win Stirling Prize twice. Further information can be found at www.wilkinsoneyre.com Shih-Fu Peng (Heneghan Peng Architects) Shih-Fu Peng is a Director of heneghan.peng architects. Following his graduation from Cornell University USA in 1989, he received a master of Architecture from Harvard University in 1992. Shih-Fu has won numerous high profile competitions including the National Gallery of Ireland extension; the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre and Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghaire. He is currently working on projects for the Grand Museum of Egypt; Kildare County Council Civic Offices and Mountjoy Redevelopment Masterplan and Custom House Landscaping. Shih-Fu is a member of both the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and the American Institute of Architects. Michael O'Doherty Michael had a 35 year long and distinguished career working with the Office of Public Works. The last 14 years of his career with the OPW was as Principle Architect with full responsibility of all projects involving the OPW nationwide. Michael is currently Vice President of the Royal www.streetsofdublin.com