On Thursday 23rd of May, the Mayor of South Dublin, Councillor Alan Edge was joined by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly to officially open of the Tallaght Innovation Quarter, which has seen the completion of a €16 million purpose-built innovation centre, Work IQ, as well as an €8m public realm scheme, which links Work IQ with County Hall, the Cultural Quarter, the future Tallaght Transport Interchange, as well as Tallaght Town Centre. Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Innovation Quarter has transformed the urban landscape of Tallaght, supporting its regeneration and the delivery of the Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan.
The Tallaght Town Centre Local Area Plan set the framework for the development of 11,000 homes and the creation of up to 15,000 jobs, with the development of the Innovation Quarter an integral part of meeting the plan’sition. Work IQ comprises a four-storey, 2,980m2 building offering three floors of flexible office accommodation to support businesses, local entrepreneurs, start-ups, or SMEs. The centre also features a public area on the ground floor with town hall space and a café facing directly onto a stunning new urban plaza.
Work IQ will accommodate up to 60 businesses and play a major role in developing start-up enterprises and is projected to support the future creation of over 700 jobs worth €80m to the economy. Key features of this cutting-edge facility designed as a hub for businesses that are serious about innovation, technology and scaling-up will include: Private or shared office space and co-working options; A variety of meeting and conference rooms; Tailored business supports including training, mentoring, funding supports and skills development; Regular onsite networking events, workshops and innovation showcases; and, Collaboration opportunities through partners including the Local Enterprise Office Enterprise Ireland, South Dublin Chamber, Technological University Dublin, Tallaght University Hospital and the South Dublin County’s many major multinational businesses.
Strategically located on land owned by South Dublin County Council in Tallaght Town Centre, Work IQ is a key part of the new Innovation Quarter Tallaght urban district being developed by the Council that also includes a new cost rental apartment scheme (which, along with Work IQ, will be served by the Tallaght District Heating Scheme, Heatworks) and the new flagship public park called Innovation Square.
The building was designed for South Dublin County Council by a multi-disciplinary team led by McCullough Mulvin Architects and its delivery will complement a combined investment of over €80m in infrastructure projects in the centre of Tallaght, including the aforementioned Innovation Quarter, new link roads, major public realm enhancement, a fourth stand at Tallaght Stadium (making it a 10,000-seater, UEFA Category 4 stadium capacity) and a proposed new Heritage Centre.
Expertly constructed by Clancy Construction Ltd., Work IQ will be operated on behalf of the Council by Oxford Innovation, the organisation responsible for managing the largest network of innovation centres in the UK, housing over 1,000 innovative early-stage businesses. Oxford Innovation will bring vast experience in supporting local entrepreneurs and with new businesses about to take up residence in Work IQ, demand for space in the new Innovation Centre is proving extremely popular, which augers well for the future of entrepreneurship in the County.
The creation of the new Innovation Quarter is underpinned by an ambitious public realm project, which has seen the development of a transformational necklace of public open spaces at Innovation Square, Chamber Square and at the newly proposed transport interchange, seamlessly knitted together by mixture of planting, urban and soft landscaping, biodiversity features, new seating and the establishment of new pedestrian and cycling desire lines, which links Tallaght Town Centre with Cookstown. Designed by Dermot Foley Landscape Architects and constructed by Clonmel Enterprises Ltd, the new public realm has set the benchmark for the future development of public realm in Tallaght Town Centre, whilst also providing inviting and animated public open spaces that will foster social interaction, bringing vibrancy and vitality to the area.
Speaking at the Launch Alan Edge, Mayor of South Dublin County Council said; “This regeneration has transformed Tallaght Town Centre into a modern, vibrant town centre which now links the cultural, commercial and civic elements of the area. With the hospital, university, Civic Theatre, Rua Red Exhibition space, The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght stadium and now the addition of the Work IQ Innovation centre, which stands as the jewel in the crown, the future for Tallaght is one of progress, Innovation and enhanced community. It’s my honour to be here to witness it’s opening.”
Colm Ward, Chief Executive of South Dublin County Council commented; “Today is a landmark day for the Council with the opening of the Innovation Quarter and Work IQ Innovation Centre. We are investing in the economic and social future of South Dublin County, and particularly Tallaght, a place of city-scale befitting such investment. This work maximises the potential of Tallaght town centre to be a hub for innovation, enterprise and culture for many years to come. I thank Minister Donnelly for attending the launch today and acknowledge the support and significant funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, under the URDF fund. I am very grateful to our local elected representatives for their ongoing support for our progressive vision for the area and I also sincerely thank all our staff involved in delivering these major projects.”
The launch of the Innovation Quarter represents an exciting chapter in the County’s development, delivering an urban district of transformational nature, which will support job creation, community development, as well as enhancing the cultural identity of the County.
