€538 per square metre rent for dockland office block
Irish Times, Wednesday November 9th 2005

An interesting new waterfront addition to Dublin’s south docks is under way with the construction of The Observatory, a five-storey block with a delivery date scheduled for July of next year. The 8,000m² (86,111ft²) building will occupy the corner of Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and Windmill Lane and is being funded by Quinlan Private on behalf of private investors.

It will occupy a pivotal waterfront site on the south docks and the decision to build it on a speculative basis rather than wait for a pre-let underlines the success of the south docks area.

Other leading companies about to move into this area include legal firms Matheson Ormbsy Prentice, McCann Fitzgerald and Dillon Eustace, as well as 02.

Declan O’Reilly of commercial agent HT Meagher O’Reilly is quoting rents of €538 per m²) (€50 per ft²) for The Observatory which will have average floor plates of 1,600m² (17,222ft²).

The building will be stone clad with curtain walling offering unobstructed views over the River Liffey and the docklands. Internally, the specification will be of the highest standard as demanded by most leading companies.