Keith Williams Architects completes major cultural complex in County Clare

Architect’s view

The pale polished reconstructed stone façade is integral with precast concrete panels. This material allowed the flowing external form to be achieved while also delivering the quality of finely detailed surfaces and ribbed texture to the exterior of the building, establishing an important and appropriately civic landmark architecture within the town. Metalwork and glazing systems are bronze coloured powder coated aluminium, while Irish limestone paves the immediate surrounding ground surfaces.

The structure is a combination of reinforced concrete frame with steel superstructure for the county library offices block. Substructure is a combination of mass concrete and piled foundations driven by the geotechnic analysis of the ground conditions. The structural concrete mix incorporates GGBS (ground granulated blast-furnace slag), a more sustainable alternative to traditional cement that reduces its environmental impact. Exposed concrete elements were carefully crafted to add to the visual appeal of the major internal spaces. The thermal inertia of this structure also allowed energy to be better managed by natural means, which was a key part of achieving a targeted NZEB outcome.

The DeValera is almost entirely naturally ventilated, has been designed to achieve NZEB (nearly zero energy building) standards and provide very high standards of universal access. Given the building’s intended life span of at least 60 years, it will have low life cycle embedded carbon.
Keith Williams, founder and director, Keith Williams Architects 

Client’s view

The need for the new DeValera Library grew from the ‘end of life’ of the previous county library, also named DeValera. The town of Ennis has a projected 2029 population of 30,000 – 22 per cent of the County Clare populace – and was in dire need of a reimagined library to serve its growing citizenry.

The brief called for a landmark building to serve a diverse range of ages and needs; a ‘cradle to grave’ clientele.

The site chosen was adjacent to the 450-seat Glór theatre (2001) on the Causeway Link in Ennis. Keith Williams Architects was appointed after a concept competition and tender process.

The vision was to unify the performing arts, the literary arts and the visual arts and provide the administrative HQ for the County Library Service.

The project was disrupted by Covid and then the bankruptcy of the first contractor L&M Keating. Following a re-tender, Coolsivna Construction commenced work in April 2022. Its completion and official opening took place in November 2024.

Reaction to the new library has been overwhelmingly positive. An average day will see 800 people pass through the doors and Saturdays attract in excess of 1,000.

The 100m² Súil art gallery offers a purpose-built, professionally curated and managed arts space in the heart of Clare, for local, national and international artists to showcase contemporary works.

Keith Williams Architects’ clever design and total commitment to the brief has delivered a building in which the population of Ennis and indeed the county at large can come together as one community seeking space and opportunity to meet, study, research, read and play.

It is testament to both the design and construction that Ennis is now viewed as the new standard in library provision for large rural towns in Ireland.
Helen Walsh, county librarian, Clare Library Service