Building scheme will create 300 jobs

THE building of office facilities for 2,000 hi-tech workers in a €50 million expansion of the City Gate complex in Cork will lead to 300 construction jobs over the next 18 months.

Cloud computing specialist Quest Software said last night it had signed contracts to buy a 72,000 sq ft section of the Mahon-based development, which can house 500 workers.

The commencement of work on phase two of the City Gate development — a total of 280,000 sq ft — has given a major lift to the construction industry.

Phase one of City Gate — already home to software companies, McAfee, SolarWinds and Big Fish Games — employs close to 1,500 people and is 90% occupied. The news that Quest Software has signed contracts for the phase-two development is a coup for the project.

In three months Quest has employed 75 of an initial cohort of 150 workers at City Gate to work in its business operations and advanced technology centre. This centre is earmarked for further expansion according to Quest’s business director Mike Madonia.

“Cork city, the hi-tech community and the energy of the people were the primary reasons why Quest chose Cork to invest in its European operations.

“We want to promote Cork as a hub for software engineers and along with companies such as VMware, EMC, McAfee, McAfee, Big Fish, SolarWinds, Trend Micro and others we want this to be the place to be,” he said.

City Gate is being developed by John Cleary Developments. The firm’s John Cleary said it is delighted to be part of this project and says the investment is very positive for Cork: “We are in advanced negotiations with other US-based multi- nationals for the remainder of the new development which will be complete by August 2012.”

BAM Contractors is building City Gate phase two and moved on site this week. Chief executive Theo Cullinane said “at a time of devastating unemployment in the building industry it is good to be commencing a project”.