This project involved a multitude of both Conservation and New works.

Tom O’Brien Construction were responsible for the conversion of a significant part of the historic Good Shepherd Convent constructed c. 1900, which had fallen into disrepair, into a modern College campus building housing kitchen and restaurant facilities blended together successfully into the new music campus for WIT, now SETU. The utilisation of the old building fabric and its stone facing has been augmented by the intelligent use of lightweight structural steel beautifully offset with yellow Ibstock brick which in turn frames the large windows and opening sections leading into the refurbished boiler houses and tank rooms.

The project involved two infill buildings in locations of former courtyards, which provided all vertical circulation to existing three–storey buildings, opening up the full floor space as lecture facilities. The project also involved the redesign of the original laundry buildings, the conversion of same into a magnificent restaurant facility, opening onto a new central spine mall, which has become the new entrance and focal point of the entire campus.

The original magnificent Chapel building was retained and restored by Tom O’Brien Construction and continues to be used in a manner which respects its original function, through its use by the School of Music, Annual Award Ceremonies and regular classical music concerts.

The Client should be applauded for taking this historic building and overseeing the transformation from an industrial past into a bright airy canteen facility making it one of the main focal points in this vibrant off campus facility for WIT.

The works highlight Tom O’Brien Construction’s skill at combining the new and the old and working with the client and the design team to skilfully achieve the joint goal of creating a great building. It also highlights our ability to work with existing facilities and ensure they get a new lease of life.

In addition, Tom O’Brien’s were responsible for significant car parking facilities about the canteen along with both hard and soft landscaping which enhances the college atmosphere. It is also part of a significant relationship built up with the WIT and is one of the many significant projects that we have completed for the college over the years.