Kildare Library Service

SIGNING OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF NAAS TOWN HALL AS A VIBRANT LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTRE

Peter Carey, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council today signed the contract with Duggan Lynch Ltd. for the construction phase of the re-development of Naas Town Hall. This development of a new Library and Cultural Centre in the historic Town Hall will be a sustainable driver of heritage, cultural and amenity pursuits in a welcoming and attractive space at the heart of the town.

This transformative project costs will be €5.9m including the design, construction, fit-out and purchase of the library collections.  75% of the funding has been granted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the ambitious Project Ireland 2040, Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).  The remaining funding will be provided by Kildare County Council as part of the Capital Development Plan 2019-2021.

The project serves three purposes

1)  to provide a library and cultural space meeting the needs of a vibrant community

2) to transform a heritage building of immense historic significance into an iconic community resource

3) to provide an impetus to transform the area surrounding Naas Town Hall. 

Peter Carey, Chief Executive was joined at the signing by Mark Stafford, Cathaoirleach Kildare County Council and Fintan Brett, Mayor of Naas Municipal District.

Cathaoirleach, Mark Stafford said “I welcome this re-development of Naas Town Hall as a Library and Cultural Centre, which will provide a new use for this iconic building at the heart of the County Town while preserving its important history and heritage. This new and accessible cultural space will significantly increase footfall to the Main Street and surrounding areas of Naas and act as a catalyst for commercial growth in the town.”

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien said, “I am delighted that my Department is supporting this project and I look forward to being able to visit Naas and seeing this landmark building lovingly transformed from a Town Hall into a modern library and cultural space, using innovative design, careful conservation and forward planning. The new library will be a space to connect, to learn, to explore and to enjoy for the community of Naas.”

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys said  in her statement of support for the project “ As Minister with responsibility for public libraries I would like to acknowledge the continued commitment, passion and enthusiasm of Kildare County Council in its support of the public library service. The signing of a contract for the construction of this state-of-the-art facility, which will include a new public library and cultural space, is a welcome development and will help meet the needs of a modern and progressive community”.

Peter Carey, Chief Executive of Kildare County Council, said “The development of the new library will play a transformative role in the town’s confidence, capacity and sustainable growth, helping to generate a dynamic cultural life that will enhance the town’s retail, hospitality and tourism offer. Kildare County Council is looking forward to developing close relationships with our neighbours such as the Moat Theatre and retailers in order to develop a vibrant Cultural Quarter for the town of Naas.”

This capital project will provide 2,046 sqm of cultural and community public realm space delivered in the heart of the town broken into 1,275.3 sqm indoor space and 770 sqm of outdoor public realm space. 

The library will provide the following services and spaces

• Adult and young adult library providing the necessary resources to accommodate, recreational, information, cultural and educational needs in an inviting and modern space.

• Multifunctional children’s library which will provide various media and also provide wet facilities for cultural activities, IT services, access to digital technologies, console stations and toddler storytelling zone.

• Digital suite to support digital skills development by providing access to the latest technologies including 3D printing, virtual reality and digital and audio editing, offering space for technology, training and innovation.

• Wi fi enabled PC’s throughout the facility

• Study, work and research zones will be distributed through the facility and will provide dedicated quiet workspaces.

• Capacity for a small meeting room.

• Larger meeting room which can flow into a multipurpose space.

• Multifunctional space to accommodate large audiences for lectures, community events and cultural activities. (Capacity for 140 individuals).

• Gallery/exhibition space providing a focus for cultural and artistic development providing a valuable resource to allow community expression.

• Employment and Enterprise Resource Service offering meeting spaces, computers, Wi-Fi, printing/scanning facility, research collections online and traditional, hot desking, programming, training facilities and break out rooms.

• Self-issue facilities including printing and IT services.
• Naas Community Library and Cultural Centre is the pilot for Changing Places facilities in Kildare County Council. Changing Places facilities provide a real improvement on standard accessible toilets as they provide a larger floor area of 12m² and additional equipment such as a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench, a full room coverage ceiling track hoist system, a centrally located toilet bowl with space either side for transfers/assistants and a safe and clean environment.

• Outdoor performance, market and workshop space

Deaton Lysaght Architects have been appointed to lead the Design Team for the project.

Also in attendance at today’s contract signing were:

• Gerard Crowdle, Director, Michael Duggan & Henry Corcoran from Duggan Lynch Ltd.
•  Sonya Kavanagh, Director of Services KCC
•  Marian Higgins, Kildare County Librarian & Gillian Allen Kildare Library Service
• Luke Hanahoe, President of the Kildare Chamber
•  Elisabeth Churchyard and  Francesca Oria from  Deaton Lysaght Architects
• Gerard O’ Malley from Tom McNamara and Associates