Ardmore Studios

Ardmore Studios, Herbert Rd., Bray, Co. Wicklow.

This project involves the construction of a 21,500 sq. ft. state-of-the-art film studio along with a 24,000 sq. ft. support space comprising a stage area, and a 5 storey support building comprising support spaces, stores/props, waiting areas, changing areas, hair/make-up, production offices/admin, loading areas and plant.

The new stage and support building will be constructed on the site of the existing surface car park, which will be demolished and replaced with the undercroft car park. A new standalone security building will be constructed at the main entrance, along with a redesign of the entrance and internal road layout, including new footpaths, cycle parking, control points and delivery/lay-by areas. The existing pillars at the main Ardmore entrance will be relocated to the avenue within the site. The external works will include the associated site development works, landscaping, boundary treatments and services provision.

Project Works include:

• Demolition of the buildings.
• Loading area and 72 space undercroft car parking.
• Glazing
• Studio FM2 floor slab
• Blockwork
• Acoustic treatments
• M&E
• Support Space fit-out works
• Commissioning
• Storm and foul drainage
• Ducted services
• Watermain installation
• New security hut build & completions
• Service connections
• Hard and soft landscaping

Key Challenges:

• Logistics Challenges – Working on a live film studio campus.
• Incorporation of filming period shutdowns.
• Logistics of construction in a tight site area.
• Material & plant delivery logistical coordination.
• King post retaining wall.
• Underpinning to existing stage C building.
• Enhanced building acoustic specification.

Ardmore has been home to TV and film productions for over 40 years, following its launch in 1958, it has played host to such high profile productions as Michael Anderson’s Shake Hands with the Devil in 1959; Francis Ford Coppolla’s Dementia 13 in 1963 and Martin Ritt’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold in 1965.