Client: Electricity Supply Board (ESB)
Main contractor: Gama Construction
Architect: Virkkunen & Co Architects
Engineer: Foster Wheeler

Two separate power plants were constructed by Concast for the ESB at Lanesboro and Shannonbridge, both on the shores of Lough Ree. The two plants had a combined gross development value of approximately €240 million, incorporating precast elements totalling approximately €2.5 million. The precast structures in both projects were similar in design, comprising a large industrial unit and stair tower, both connected to an adjoining steel structure. The precast elements were specially designed to have increased fire protection along with capacity to absorb a blast force.         

The industrial accommodation incorporated a precast beam and column structure, 300mm deep hollowcore flooring spanning 12m, with wall panels used to frame the building spanning between the columns. The precast construction of the 19 storey stair tower (which is currently the highest precast structure in Ireland) incorporated wall panels, stairs, landings and hollowcore flooring. 

Click here to read an article from Concrete Today magazine, as published by the Irish Concrete Federation, which details some of the key design challenges and Health & Safety innovations which Concast's in-house designers successfully developed for this project. 

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