'Building One' - Waterford's flagship Glassworks building expected this year
‘Building One’, the initial 80,000 sq ft flagship office building of the Glassworks University Enterprise Quarter, is expected to open by the end of the year.
Phase one of the overall development involves the construction of the Glassworks site's flagship building.
'Building One', the first commercial building on the site, is being developed with a €43 million investment by the joint venture formed between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers.
The initial 80,000 square foot, four-storey flagship office building is expected to open by the end of the year.
It will have capacity for 800 employees and will be Waterford’s first purpose-built, BER A3 rated office building that meets LEED Gold and WiredScore Gold standards.
It integrates the old Waterford Crystal showroom, and will include showers, changing rooms, locker facilities, a secure bike store and electric vehicle charging points.
"It incorporates the Waterford Crystal showroom as a physical and symbolic link to the site's past and its future," Noel Frisby Jr said.
Works to Building One are already underway and planning permission for 582 student bed spaces was approved in May of last year.
This application also included provision for student amenity facilities, including a retail/cafe unit, communal areas, laundry room and reception.
Shareholders provided a guarantee last week that progress is already being made and that the overall development will be delivered.
"The vision is already taking shape. Progress on site is real and visible. This isn’t a promise, this is delivery in motion. Even now, construction on site is already creating skilled jobs and driving economic momentum," Noel Frisby Jr said.
Chief Executive of Waterford City and County Council, Sean McKeown, added that the development "is already happening and it's moving at pace".
"It's an exciting and significant milestone in the transformation of Waterford and the former Waterford Crystal site," he added.
"The scale and vision of the project is a huge vote of confidence in Waterford and it mirrors the North Quays project at the other end of the city. Together these projects send a powerful signal that Waterford is ready and willing to seize opportunity.
"This city has undergone remarkable change in recent decades, from being a largely industrial city to one with a growing modern and innovative economy, spanning sectors from pharmaceuticals and life sciences through to IT and financial services."
