DEVELOPMENT WORK has just begun on a 15-storey office tower next to Grand Canal Dock Dart station on Barrow Street in Dublin 4.
The landmark Montevetro block is being developed by Treasury Holdings on a half-acre sidings site originally used by CIÉ to refuel trains. Treasury has taken a 999-year lease on the property and entered a rent-sharing agreement with the State company.
The building will stand 63 metres above the dock and will have a floor area of over 18,580sq m (200,000sq ft).
Mark Pollard, Treasury's director of development, says the fully flexible floor plates will average 1,579sq m (17,000sq ft) while three penthouse floors will each have 650sq m (7,000sq ft). One of the features is to be a huge south-facing terrace extending to one-fifth of an acre on the 11th floor - about 50 metres above ground level.
The block, which will be ready for fit-out early in 2010, is expected to be of interest to Google if it proceeds with plans to greatly expand its operation in Dublin.
Google is based on the opposite side of Barrow Street, a street that is due to be substantially upgraded by developers in the area.
The letting agents for Montevetro are HT Meagher O'Reilly and Jones Lang LaSalle.
