Deanery Restoration Works Near Completion

Restoration and refurbishment works to The Deanery at St Columb's Cathedral (1833) in the centre of the historic Walled City is nearing completion, with scaffold dismantling underway.  

Works internally included extensive redecoration treatment throughout.  Externally sandstone detailing has been sensitively cleaned and brickwork pointing renewed with lime based products.  

The extent of existing staining to stone banding, parapet and quoin detailing and the subsequent removal of the staining can be seen in the before and after photographs below. More to follow on completion...

#conservation #architecture #walledcity #deanery #conservationarchitects #derrylondonderry

Scaffolding has started to be dismantled, revealing the refurbished facade with sandstone parapet and detailing restored

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Before restoration works were completed

Before Restoration - Extensive staining to sandstone parapet 

Before Restoration - Defective brick pointing and staining and damage to sandstone quoins

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#conservation #architecture #walledcity #deanery #conservationarchitects #derrylondonderry

Vote for Bishop's Gate Hotel in the RIAI 'Public Choice Awards'

RIAI Public Choice Award 2017

Voting has now opened

We are delighted to share that Bishop's Gate Hotel has been selected from a total of 156 entries to be on the shortlist for the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2017 in the Conservation/ Restoration category. The shortlist was announced this morning by RIAI President Carole Pollard on RTE Radio’s Morning Ireland. The shortlist also forms the basis for the RIAI Public Choice Award from which the public can select their favourite building by voting online.

The Awards Ceremony evening will be held on Friday 23 June at the Mansion House Dublin where all results will be announced and the awards presented.

RICS AWARDS NI 2017 | Bishop's Gate Hotel Wins in Tourism & Leisure Category

We are delighted to share the news that the Bishop's Gate Hotel project was announced WINNER of the Tourism & Leisure category at the RICS awards ceremony which took place last Thursday evening. We would like to congratulate our client, Inner City Building Preservation Trust, and also the contractors, Conway Builders, on this success. 

RICS AWARDS NI 2017

Tourism & Leisure - Winner

"This award honours projects that make an outstanding contribution to tourism and leisure facilities in the region or their locality."

                                                                                                                                                                             rics.org/awardsni

From left David Snodgrass, Noel James & Karl Pedersen (Mullarkey Pedersen Architects) & Helen Quigley (Inner City Trust) accepting the award in Belfast last Thursday evening with broadcaster Paul Clark. 

From left; Helen Quigley (Inner City Trust), broadcaster Paul Clark & Karl Pedersen (Mullarkey Pedersen Architects)

"Bishop’s Gate Hotel has greatly enhanced Derry’s tourism and hospitality product.  Since it opened in March 2016 the restored building has attracted thousands of visitors, many coming to finally ‘get inside’ the landmark building which had been off limits for so long. The hotel has bucked the trend for smaller, start-up businesses in the tourism sector, winning “Hideaway of the Year 2017” and taking second place in the entire UK in the coveted TripAdvisor ‘Travellers’ Choice Award."

AWARD WINNER | Bishop's Gate Hotel WINS in Tourism NI Awards

We are pleased to announce the results of the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards and the North West Business Awards, hosted by Londonderry Chamber and Commerce, in which the Bishop’s Gate Hotel was shortlisted in a number of categories. 

NORTHERN IRELAND TOURISM AWARDS 2017

Most Promising New Tourism Business - Winner

Hotel of the Year Award – Runner Up

NORTH WEST Business Awards 2017

Guest Accommodation Provider of the Year - Winner

(Above) Representatives of the Bishop’s Gate Hotel being presented with an award at the awards ceremony last Thursday evening.

This is a great achievement for the hotel and leaves us confident of similar success in the RICS Awards for which results will be announced on Thursday 25th May at the awards ceremony in La Mon Hotel, Belfast. Bishop's Gate Hotel has been shortlisted for 4 of the eight categories; Building Conservation, Tourism & Leisure, Commercial and Regeneration.

Keep checking for results which will be posted on our blog following the event!

BIM SKILLS

MPA staff complete training  to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the BIM process

Mullarkey Pedersen Architects staff continue to strengthen their understanding and application of Building Information Modelling (BIM) having completed the course entitled; 'Fundamentals of Building Information Modelling', at the North West Regional College over an 8 week period, which included a series of seminars and examination.

MPA staff updated and strengthened their knowledge on the following topics within the BIM environment:

• BIM Key Terms

• BIM principles

• Maturity Levels

• Standards

• Technology

• Drivers for Change

• Enablers factors

• Benefits to key stakeholders

• Barriers to successful implementation of BIM

Our thanks go to Mr David Maxwell of North West Regional College for the informative learning environment he created over the duration of the course.

Live BIM Project 

CARLOW INSTITUTE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

We Are Recruiting

Architects and Architectural Technicians

We are looking for enthusiastic and creative people to join our established, award winning practice as part of our friendly and dynamic team.

We are looking for people with the following:

• Excellent design, graphical and technical skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Understanding and experience of working in a BIM process
• Experience using Revit is desirable

Please reply with CV and examples of your work to: info@mparchitects.net

Bishop's Gate Hotel Shortlisted for multiple RICS Awards

RICS Awards 2017 - Bishop's Gate Hotel, Derry shortlisted in 4 categories  

We are delighted to announce that the Bishop's Gate Hotel has been shortlisted in the Conservation, Commercial, Tourism and Regeneration categories following the major overhaul of the Grade B1 listed building.

The building has a rich history and we were delighted to have led the restoration of this important project in conjunction with the Inner City Trust. Following it's purchase by the Inner City Trust and the subsequent conservation and extension works, the building has been reborn and is now viewed with great civic pride by the people of the historic 'Walled City'.  

Before

During

All timber paneling was removed, numbered, treated, stored and reinstated in their original location. 

No Ordinary Building - A Brief History

Previously known as 'The Northern Counties Club' it opened its doors in 1893, offering a base for businessmen and intellects of the city to meet and discuss ideas and plans with which to develop the city’s industries. Throughout the years it has greeted many famous visitors – including Winston Churchill, W.B. Yeats, Field Marshalls Montgomery and Alexander and artist Derek Hill to name a few.

The building is inextricably linked to major historical events - Returning officers from the Crimean War established the building as a gentlemen’s club in 1881, and in World War I it was mess headquarters for officers in the Derry Regiment. In World War II it provided mess facilities for Canadian and American soldiers based in the city as well as local officers. Since the naval base was established in Derry in June 1940 the building was at the centre of the wider social context, patronised by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US Navy.

The building’s decorative exterior is a result of architect Alfred Foreman’s reconfiguration of the façade in the early 20th century when Derry enjoyed an economic boom. The flamboyant and quirky design style of Forman matched the prevailing mood at the time.

When its use as a private club ceased, the building fell into disrepair and various sections were let for use as office accommodation.  Unoccupied areas were simply left to rot.  In 2006 the building was vacated, after which time the entire structure fell into disrepair and the survival of the iconic structure was in jeopardy. The roof was in a dangerous state of repair, damp and rot spread and pigeon infestation was significant.

The recent restoration has significantly improved one of Derry’s most historic areas, breathing new life into the building, whilst boosting tourism, employment, education and training.  Where once stood decay and neglect, now stands a fully restored part of our built heritage, equipped to contribute to the changing demands of city life.

Works progressing well @ St. Patrick's Church, Oram

Photos show the external walls at St. Patrick's Church in Oram, Co. Monaghan being stripped back to bare render in preparation for the application of a breathable paint.

Office Artwork: St. Aengus' Church, Co. Donegal

Abstract image produced in-house of one of our ecclesiastical projects, St. Aengus' Church in Burt, Co. Donegal, which is currently undergoing restoration.

This project, completed by Corr McCormick in 1967, won the RIAI Gold Medal and was also named 'Building of the Century' by a national poll in 1999. 

Keep an eye out for progress photographs of the restoration coming soon!  

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Season's Greetings from all of us @ Mullarkey Pedersen Architects

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2017!

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St. Columb's Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival!

Mullarkey Pedersen Architects were pleased to have been invited to take part in the St. Columb’s Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival which took place 15-19th December.

Many local businesses, charities and organisations made a donation and designed a unique tree to represent their company for public display at the cathedral. 

All proceeds from the charity event, which was endorsed by Mayor Alderman Hilary McClintock, have gone towards Foyle Search & Rescue, Foyle Hospice and St. Columb’s Cathedral.

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Works for the new education campus in Carlow have commenced on site

Mullarkey Pedersen are excited to announce that the development for the new post-primary school, further education facility and sports hall at Carlow, as part of the NDFA Schools Bundle 5 PPP Programme, has begun on site.

Keep checking for progress updates!