Architect: Henry J Lyons
Quantity Surveyor: Bruce Shaw and Partners
Main Contractor: Midland Construction Ltd.

The Royal Hibernian Academy is located on Ely Place, Dublin 2. The academy was reopened to the public in 2008 after extensive renovation and reordering of the art galleries and studios internally and a building extension adding additional floor to rear of the building. The works also included complete remodeling of the external elevations.

The scope of work for Williaam Cox included:

A. New rooflights
A variety of designs including northlights and single pitch rooflights were installed to light the various studios and the library. The Schuco F50 system rooflight system was used and high performance glazing toughened and laminated to current BS requirements. The rooflights included vents with Windowmaster actuators electrically operated and controlled by switch convenient to the occupants. Solid areas of the rooflights were installed with polyester powder coated aluminium pressings, insulated to provide u-value to specification.

B. Elevation windows to the studios
The SchucoADS65 window system was used with high performance glazing and powder coated cill pressings. The windows were sealed back to the structure with EPDM.

C. Curtain wall screens to the atrium
This feature screen lights the main atrium and includes large double glazed units supported by Raico Therm 56 System, which utilizes a steel T section to give a very light façade structure internally.

D. Ground floor screens
The glazed screens are arranged along Ely place and form the external wall to the café, bookshop and reception area. The double glazed units were designed to be frameless and spanned 2.8m from horizontal supports in the ground floor and underside of the first floor, concealed behind the elevation stonework. The glass unit were toughened externally and laminated internally with perimeter frit to hide the silicone edge seal and also there is a manifestation at eye level screen printed on the glass by the glass supplier. The glass to glass joints are sealed with external grade low modulus silicone. The internal glass partition screens are supported in stainless steel channels –top and bottom – and vertical joint are silicone sealed.

E. Internal firescreens to stair area
Stair enclosure screens to provide 60 minute insulation and 60 minute integrity were supplied in Schuco Jansen system with Contraflam fire glass. Fire doors in the same system were included in the package.

F. Smoke vents to stairs area
Automatic Eura smoke vent to give 1m2 ventilation, installed in the roof of the stairways to satisfy building regulation.

G. Renovation of existing mansard rooflights to main gallery
Extensive replacement of cracked 6mm wire reinforced glazing together with aluminium mullions and silicone sealing to new and existing panels.