Construction BUSINESS

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, Eric Boustouller, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Western Europe, and Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director at Microsoft Ireland, marked the start of construction of Microsoft’s new state of the art campus facility. The ground-breaking ceremony took place yesterday in South County Business Park, Leopardstown.

Design, construction, and completion of the five storey, ultra-modern new office building is being undertaken by BAM Ireland who were selected as partner for the flagship construction project. BAM will also oversee the fitting out of the building, which will be ready for occupation immediately upon completion in May 2017. The construction represents an investment of €134m.

Construction of the innovative campus building will take place over 92 weeks and the project will support up to 2,100 jobs locally and regionally over that period. The development, which will accommodate up the 2,300 staff at full capacity, comprises 35,000m2 office accommodation over five floors and almost 14,000m2 basement over two floors – the equivalent of nearly seven football pitches of internal space.

Speaking at the turning of the sod ceremony, Theo Cullinane, BAM Ireland CEO said : “We are delighted to be awarded this large campus style project for Microsoft. This project is Microsoft’s largest construction project for years to come and their first major owned asset within their global portfolio. BAM Ireland has completed some of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the Irish market, for both public and private clients. This project, which will deliver a new flexible and agile facility for Microsoft in 2017, will also showcase to a worldwide audience the talent and capabilities that we in Ireland have to offer.” He also added :

“While activity has picked up in the office sector, there has been little office building activity over the past few years, with a shortage of quality space particularly in Dublin and Cork. International companies are looking for energy efficient, open design, innovative office space and BAM has particular expertise in this area, having completed a number of similar projects in the past.”