Case Studies

IDA Blanchardstown

TEAM

ORS Multidisciplinary Team

Sector

Public

Commercial

Related Services

Project management, infrastructure, civil structural, flood risk assessment and PSDP

People To Contact

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Overview of service

IDA Ireland is the government agency responsible for attracting and retaining inward foreign direct investment into Ireland.

IDA Ireland appointed ORS as employer representative and lead designer for the 350-meter extension of an existing access road within the IDA College Business and Technology Park, Blanchardstown, Co Dublin.

ORS also acted as PSDP and the employer representative, coordinating a complete procurement process for site investigations and successfully securing planning permission for the project.

There were four distinct phases:

Stage 1 – Initial Stage: Evaluation of current planning drawings. Undertaking site investigation reports. Flood risk assessment to determine the level of flood risk. Preliminary bridge/culvert design. OPW application documentation (section 50 application). Preparation of initial financial costings for the project.
Stage 2 – Planning stage: Preparation of the planning application and all associated drawings and documentation, liaison with all relevant parties and stakeholders, preparation of budget costings, performing the role of PSDP, including the production of a planning stage preliminary health and safety plan, review of planning conditions and incorporation of same into the planning drawings.
Stage 3 – Design/tender stage: Detailed design of the proposed roadway and bridge/culvert, PSDP duties, preparation of a project programme and tender budget estimate, identification of key project milestones, preparation of tender issue documents and management of the tender process.
Stage 4 – Construction stage: Undertake the role of employer’s representative, manage the works programme from commencement to completion, management of the successful contractor, attendance at site meetings, and certification of costs throughout the project lifecycle, including liaising with the client regularly to provide updates.

Project challenges

Clever design and communication

The challenges faced in this project were largely around the existing civil services already on site. As part of the new road design, new foul and storm lines were needed to accommodate future expansion within the business park.

The existing services in the ground, which included electrical, public lighting, gas and telecoms lines, created a very congested environment underground; the ORS civil engineering team designed around all these existing services.

During the construction stage, extra care was needed by the contractor to ensure the existing services were not damaged or interfered with throughout the works. Strong project management and communication between the design team and contractor ensured the project was completed on time and under budget.