Tommy Makem Community & Arts Centre

This project required the demolition of an existing community centre and the construction of a large, more iconic building. Additional features involved restoring a heritage waterwheel, providing paths and creating a stepped podium to link the car park and the main building.

Facilities include a multi-purpose hall, an exhibition space, reception area, catering and dining spaces, toilets, offices and audio-visual provision.

Foundations are spread footings supporting a steel and concrete structure on rock.

Load-bearing walls are in reinforced concrete, polished and enhanced with quotations from Tommy Makem for aesthetic and cultural value. Several are angled to the vertical for dynamic effect. Floors are in visual concrete throughout.

The roof is largely steel with feature trusses; it includes an expressed steel beam with reinforced concrete soffit at first-floor level.

Storm drainage, including a hydro-brake to control flow and back up to off-set attenuation crates, was integrated with the local system.

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