Exterior upgrade planned for Busaras

Bus Éireann is about to seek planning permission for the €2 million-plus second phase of refurbishment of the landmark Busáras building in Dublin's north inner city.

The exterior of the bus terminal - a protected building designed by architect Michael Scott - will undergo its first major upgrading since it was built in the early 1950s, if the planning application to Dublin City Council is successful.

The proposal involves repairing and cleaning the bronze glazing and brickwork at ground floor level, which will be overseen by conservation architects and a bronze expert.

The west-facing entrance lobby would get new entrances at both sides with bronze automatic sliding doors and uplights installed to the underside of the canopy.

Michael Scott was renowned for his use of materials and paint effects that enhanced texture and brass, bronze, copper, mosaics, and exotic timbers often featured in his work.

Phase two also involves new bus-parking bays to relieve congestion around the station. These will have footpaths, kerbs and bollards and bus signs. The bus yard entrance and exit would get new steel gates and automatic barriers.

When Scott was designing Busáras, the areas devoted exclusively to the Department of Social Welfare were less exuberant than the station concourse, as the then government was sensitive to accusations of over-expenditure.

Busáras is widely regarded as long overdue an overhaul.

The building - heralded as a milestone in modern architecture in the 1950s - is looking tired beside some of the more modern glazed offices of the International Financial Services Centre.

A number of the original fixtures and fittings designed by Scott still exist, including terrazzo floor tiles, and large timber wall panels.

Phase one of the refurbishment was completed in May last year and included the retiling of the ceiling, the relocation of the customer information counter, the repolishing and regrouting of the ground floor, new lighting and passenger information displays.