County Hall, Cork
| Cork County Hall | |
|---|---|
 Cork County Hall | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Address | Carrigrohane Road |
| Town or city | Cork |
| Country | Ireland |
| Construction started | 1965[1] |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Patrick McSweeney |
The County Hall is a 17-storey office block, owned by Cork County Council and housing its administrative headquarters. The building is located on Carrigrohane Road in the City of Cork. Although the building is owned by Cork County Council, it is located in a separate administrative area from the County - Cork City. At 67 metres (220 ft) tall, the building was the tallest storeyed building in the state upon completion. However, it has since been surpassed by The Elysian. Also in Cork, The Elysian was built in 2008.
History
The building was designed by Patrick McSweeney, the then Cork County Architect. It opened in 1968[2] and is now a protected building, although its modern design was not universally admired. Oisín Kelly's statue, Two Working Men, stands outside the complex.
Redevelopment
A redevelopment project began in 2002 to re-clad the existing building, add a new storey to the tower block and build a six storey extension to the side of the tower.[3] The original distinctive concrete facade had been severely eroded, and it was decided to replace rather than repair this, as part of an expansion scheme. A louvered glass cladding replaced the original concrete, and the six-storey extension at ground level was completed in June 2006, as well as a new concourse and council chamber. The redevelopment cost €50 million[4]. The building was previously measured at 64m, however the addition of the extra storey to the tower extended its height to 67m.[citation needed] This new top storey is a glazed pavilion. The new storey also contains the restaurant Vertigo, offering panoramic views of the city and environs.