Situated just a stone’s throw from the Grand Canal, the Clayton Hotel Charlemont is the latest addition to Dublin’s impressive hotel portfolio.
The €40m investment by the Dalata Hotel Group is a 4-star 188-room hotel that fuses old and new. Combining three listed 18th century Georgian buildings with a contemporary structure via an atrium, this ambitious two-year build presented a substantial logistical challenge. Fronting onto Charlemont Street and Charlemont Mall in the heart of Dublin’s vibrant city centre, space was most certainly at a premium for main contractor McAleer & Rushe, and for the project’s sub-contractors.
“Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging aspects of the project involved logistics and deliveries,” explained Adam Dent, Project Manager for Kerrigan Mechanical. “We were contracted for the provision of complete mechanical services – rainwater and sanitaryware – but with the city centre location there was only one crane and one delivery point. The plant room was located on the roof, and the success of the build from our perspective was in no small part down to the collaboration and coordination with the builder and crane team.”
Kerrigan Mechanical is a division of Midland Heating & Plumbing, first established by Ronan Kerrigan back in 1998. The Athboy-based company has expanded in recent years to include electrical services, offering a full M&E solution, and now has considerable experience across the healthcare, education, commercial, retail, high density residential, and hospitality sectors. For Project Manager Adam Dent, however, the Clayton Hotel Charlemont broke new ground.
“This was a very satisfying project from a personal point of view,” said Adam. “It was the first time I had worked with ‘protected structures’, with the project integrating the old listed buildings at number 35, 36, and 37 Charlemont Street with a new build. All the pipework risers were existing, so we had to be extremely careful with the route taken. It was no easy task.”
In hot water
Hot water, and lots of it, is a prerequisite of any hotel. The Clayton Hotel Charlemont is no exception.
Kerrigan Mechanical worked in partnership with Caldwell Consulting Engineers. Together, they devised a system tailored to the Clayton Charlemont.
Given the demand, Kerrigan Mechanical turned to a leading manufacturer of high quality central heating and hot water products since 1968. “The hot water cylinders are fed from our boiler cascade which consists of three stainless steel 600kW Rendamax boilers,” Project Manager, Adam Dent, explained. “The boilers provide constant hot water to the hotel, to the radiators, and also the AHU heating coils.”
Given the scale of hot water provision required, storage is fairly substantial. “With such high demand, the plant room incorporates 8000 litres of storage via four stainless steel buffer tanks. They have a constant demand de-stratification pump to guard against legionella bacteria contamination.”
“Working with Xylem too was a breath of fresh air due to their team’s professionalism and support,” added Adam. “The Lowara GHV booster set with Hydrovar smart control heads supplied to the site were pre-commissioned through Paddy Hearty, Commissioning Engineer, Xylem Water Solutions, Ireland. They allowed us to successfully test and hand over rooms to the builder for decorating within the designated timeframe. Once we had live power, and after a few on-site modifications by Xylem, the system was fully commissioned.”
Go with the flow
In keeping with the trend towards sustainable industry solutions, passive ventilation makes use of natural forces such as wind and thermal buoyancy to circulate air to and from an interior space. The system regulates the internal air temperature, bringing fresh air in, and sending stale air out.
In addition to the installation of supply and extract ventilation to all 188 hotel bedrooms, Kerrigan had to factor in four meeting/conference rooms, each with their own heat recovery system, the complex’s Gauden Restaurant, Lockside Bar, a fitness suite, and an open plan lobby area and event space. In total, more than 3km of ductwork along with over 500m of fire rated ductwork was installed.
Adam explains this furher: “The complete passive smoke ventilation system, with all ductwork fire rated, included 14 passive normally closed dampers as part of the fire safety system. We installed over 570 Fire Smoke dampers which are inter-faced with a central touch screen panel.
“The Kerrigan Mechanical provision also included the supply of high-end sanitary ware that was installed in situ, not pods, and the fitting of three automatic opening vents and fire fighting dry risers in every staircase core.”
The Clayton Hotel Charlemont is just part of Kerrigan Mechanical’s burgeoning project portfolio. Having won the award for Medium Contractor of the Year at the 2019 Plumbing & Heating Awards, it is clear this is a progressive company that is becoming an increasingly influential player in the commercial sector.
A multi-disciplined business that boasts a diverse, talented and professional workforce, Kerrigan Mechanical can now offer clients a comprehensive range of mechanical installation solutions. From initial design stage right through to final commissioning and handover, the company can supply and install commercial plumbing, heating systems and controls, renewable energy solutions (including heat pumps, underfloor heating systems, solar panels), plus ventilation and extract systems, and commercial plant room solutions.
Kerrigan has undertaken a diverse range of the work in recent years, with the hospitality and leisure sector well represented. The ability to bring the latest technologies to bear on historic facades, in evidence at the Clayton Charlemont, was also a feature of two previous projects. The Castlebellingham Hotel and Markree Castle Manor House Hotel, both 17th century buildings, are further proof of the ability to work within the restrictions placed by protected structures.
Of course, Kerrigan Mechanical can also turn its hand to more contemporary works. Working alongside Parsons Building Services Ltd, they provided plumbing and gas installations for a modern hospitality phenomenon, Nando’s Restaurants, in Cork, plus Mary Street, Santry, and Liffey Valley (all Dublin).
Kerrigan Mechanical Project Manager Adam Dent is adamant that the Clayton Hotel Charlemont project is another important milestone. “This was a tremendous project for Kerrigan Mechanical to be involved with. We are delighted to have worked hand-in-hand with McAleer & Rushe, Caldwell Consulting Engineers and, of course, the Dalata Hotel Group.”
Project Team
Client: Dalata Hotel Group
Main Contractor: McAleer & Rushe Ltd
Architect: Urban Innovation
Consulting Engineers: Caldwell Consulting
Mechanical Services: Kerrigan Mechanical
Kerrigan Mechanical,
Unit 3, Athboy Business Park,
Trim Road, Athboy, County Meath.
T: +353 (0)46 9430 529
W: www.kerriganmechanical.ie
