The biggest crane in Ireland is being used to put a new roof on the Central Bank building in Dublin.
Architect Sam Stephenson's design for a new Central Bank building on Dublin's Dame Street caused controversy at the time. Since opening in 1975, the Central Bank has become a well known landmark in the Temple Bar area of the city. However,
Its roof has always had an unfinished look, the result of another controversy.
During the Central Bank construction, planning permission for the top of the building was withdrawn. The roof is now being finished, adding workspace without altering the height of the building.
The roof will be finished off in copper. Sections of steel measuring 80 feet by 15 feet are being lifted into place by the biggest crane in the country. Weighing 200 tonnes the crane itself takes 9 hours to assemble.
Denis Ward of Joseph Murphy Structural Engineers is pleased with how the work is progressing. It is running 12 hours ahead of schedule, partly due to how well the steel is fitting and the good weather.
A very good calm day for the job.
Traffic in the area has been affected but not too badly. Dame Street will be back to normal on Tuesday morning when the Central Bank reopens after the Easter weekend bank holiday.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 10 April 1993. The reporter is Adrian Beattie.
