De Valera Library & Súil Art Gallery Ennis, Co Clare, Ireland

The new 2,321m² De Valera Library & Súil Art Gallery in the county town of Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland, was opened by the Taoiseach Simon Harris TD on 15th November 2024.

It is the 6^th completed project, and 3^rd library building in Ireland designed by Keith Williams Architects,

The project’s prominent site, occupied in part by the 485 seat Glór theatre from 2001, sits opposite the historic Poor Clare Monastery and Monastery Park, an important green space at the edge of Ennis town centre.

The architects placed the new elements, the De Valera Library and the Súil Art Gallery immediately abutting Glór, a new cultural nexus has been created uniting the 3 primary colours of the arts – the visual, the literary and performing arts – into a single complex, serving the town, county and region.

The  library, art gallery and Glór are interlinked through a new double height colonnaded portico and main entrance, maximising connectivity between the arts triptych contained within.

The library over two floors, with more than 73,000 books, numerous publications, archives and other media, is largest element within the new complex. Open and transparent within, a large void and public stair in the middle of the plan overlooking Monastery Park, it gives a strong visual and movement permeability between the levels and the various library sections. The County Library Service has been placed in a simple bar of adaptable office space above the library, whilst the Súil with its adjoining sculpture court, sits across from the library’s main entrance.

The new building is wrapped in a 10m high, undulating curved reconstituted stone façade that unites the entire building complex.  A huge window in the main facade opens up daytime views from the library interior and main staircase to Monastery Park opposite, whilst as dusk falls the glazing appears to dissolve and the inner glow of the library is revealed to the world.

The pale polished reconstructed stone façade is integral with pre-cast concrete panels. This material allowed the flowing external form to be achieved whilst also delivering the very 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, and 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 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 my natural means which was a key part of achieving a targeted NZEB outcome.

The De Valera 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.

“The De Valera library both on its previous site and now in its new location has always striven to provide as comprehensive a service as possible to its client base. From the official opening, it has become obvious that the community at large has embraced this new building with much affection and admiration for its scale and functionality. The numbers using the building on a daily basis range from 800-1,000. The clever design and total commitment to the brief by Keith Williams Architects 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. Each age group has been given consideration in the new build – from the very young with access to sensory toys, games and activities to primary and secondary school students with access to tablets and laptops (who fill the nearly 170 seating spaces) for after school study and to the 3rd level students who avail of the quieter spaces afforded to them on the first floor. The Local Studies library attracts a myriad of serious researchers, historians and those with an interest in genealogy and history. The Súil art gallery adjacent to the library has from the outset worked to invite all sections of the community to seek enjoyment and learning in its 100 sqm space.

From stakeholder consultation through to design, planning, construction and handover, Keith Williams Architects’ commitment was unquestionable, and in November 2024, their beautiful new building was finally complete, emerging on the skyline to much admiration and appreciation from our staff team, and the public alike.” 

Helen Walsh : County Librarian

Client: Clare County Council
Library & Arts Services
Helen Walsh : County Librarian

Keith Williams Architects
Architecture, Interiors, Assigned Certifier
Keith R Williams : Director of Design
Richard Gm Brown : Director in Charge
Aline Magalhaes : Senior Architect
Lilliana de Cavalho : Architect
Alexander Craig-Thompson : Architect
Dario Monni : Architect

Consultant Team
ARUP : structural and civil engineers, acoustics, fire consultancy
AxisEng : MEP Engineer
AECOM : Cost Consultancy
OLM : PSDP

Construction Team
Main Contractor : Coolsivna Construction Ltd

Reconstituted Stone Facades
Techrete

The project was funded by:
Dept. of Rural and Community Development
Dept. of Housing, Planning and Local Government
European Regional Development Fund (2014-2020)
Clare County Council