Penney’s Dublin
Ongoing conservation consultancy and diagnostic reporting for the major restoration, refurbishment and extension of Penney’s Mary Street head office in Dublin. Consurv delivered detailed site inspections, photographic reporting and thermal imaging diagnostics to guide complex repairs across the historic façade, domes and roof of the 1906 protected structure.
History
In June 1969, the first Penney’s was opened in Mary Street Dublin. The oldest part of Penney’s Mary Street dates back to 1906. It was originally constructed as the Todd Burns department store, described by a newspaper of the time as a ‘palatial Dublin warehouse’. It was designed by William Mansfield Mitchell, a prominent Dublin architect.
ansfield Mitchell had worked with Deane and Woodward, and was also responsible in designing the Masonic Girls’ School in Ballsbridge, (now known as Dublin’s Bewley’s Hotel) and the Hotel Metropole, which stood on O’Connell Street until it was destroyed in the 1916 Rising. The Todd Burns department store cost in excess of £70,000 at the time. Its principal frontage was more than 120ft long, facing onto Mary Street and the building ran for 300ft along Jervis St.
Consurv Involvement
Consurv were brought on board to assist with the restoration, refurbishment and the extension of the existing retail trading store of the main Penney’s Head Office/ Retail Store of Mary Street, Dublin 1.
The scope of works included Consurv carrying out numerous site inspections. Each inspection visit involved the provision of a detailed photographic report together with associated drawings. Consurv maintained ongoing consultancy works in respect of the development at Mary Street. This included works on the domes, the façade, roof repairs and the provision of Thermal Image Report to diagnose problems initially. The major refurbishment of Mary Street Penney’s store has ultimately added 21,500 sq feet of retail space. This brings the total to 95,600 sq ft, making this the largest Penney’s store in Ireland.
Penney’s always value a building’s heritage and with the help of Consurv, Mary Street has successfully restored real quality out of the original features.
“This refurbishment of Penney’s Mary Street will set the stage for the next chapter in our original store’s history. It is also of historical importance as the building is a protected structure dating back to 1906,”
said Paul Marchant, chief executive, Penney’s
Corner of Mary Street and Jervis Street by Yair Haklai
Todd Burns & Company – original occupants of the Mary’s Street Site