'...the lives we live' 2015 - 2020

Some New Life
For This Old Town
Ger Casey
Chief Executive Officer
Grangegorman Development
Agency
I’ve been involved in the redevelopment of Grangegorman for over a
decade, starting out as Director of Architecture and now as CEO of the Grangegorman
Development Agency (GDA). The revitalisation of this distinctive part of Dublin, with
its rich and uneasy past, is as exciting now as it was then.
As the Agency responsible for the redevelopment of the site, our purpose
in the GDA is to redevelop the grounds of the former St. Brendan’s Hospital into a
new piece of city with a vibrant, sustainable community. The development of the site
includes a world-class integrated campus for both TU Dublin and the Health Service
Executive (HSE).
The process of revitalising an urban area is a complex task that requires
the support of national Government and wider society. It also requires patience, commitment
and, at times, a leap of faith. At its core is a belief that the outcome of the
project will enhance the lives of the people who live, work and study there.
It begins with a vision that must excite and engage key stakeholders from
the outset, but that also has the capacity to evolve and endure over time. In the case
of Grangegorman, the fundamental building blocks in achieving the vision were already
there – a great location,
a passionate community,
and clear objectives set
out by TU Dublin and the
HSE.
The next step
is to entice the most innovative
and creative talents
to help realise the vision.
We achieved this initially
The Grangegorman Playground, opened to the community
in 2015. Photo: Lori Keeve
through an international
competition that was
won by architectural firm,
Moore Ruble Yudell (MRY)
and DMOD Architects.
Their vision has stood
the test of time and won
international acclaim. This
approach has been repeated for the design of the various buildings and elements of
infrastructure being delivered as part of the revitalisation.
This commitment to talent must also be reflected in the delivery team,
who need to be highly skilled and sufficiently resourced. A key aspect of their role is to
act as champions for the vision and to continue to drive it forward. In a project of this
scale, decisions can often be made on the basis of cost, convenience, or a lack of understanding.
The delivery team must work collaboratively with key stakeholder groups
– be they internal stakeholders, funders, end users, or the local area – to continuously
remind them of the vision and to promote its shared value and unifying characteristics.