International architectural competition for Arts HQ

The Office of Public Works is organising a two-stage international competition for the design of a new headquarters for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. It is planned to provide a building of 12,500 sq m on the site at Infirmary Road, Dublin 8. The OPW says it hopes that submissions "will be an example of architectural quality and evoke a strong sense of the optimism and confidence of contemporary Ireland at the commencement of a new millennium". The first phase of the competition will involve the selection by a jury of six entries to go forward to the second stage. Those selected will be expected to complete a more detailed design for which each of them will receive a premium of £10,000.