OPW issues tender for major facelift of Dublin's Busáras

Busaras, Dublin's main bus depot, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023. File photo

Dublin’s central bus station Busáras is set to undergo a major facelift, with the contract for a significant redevelopment of the site put out to tender.

The Office for Public Works on Tuesday issued the request for works on the building in the heart of the city centre, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023.

"The project consists of the full refurbishment, fitout, and considered historic retrofit of the Áras Mhic Dhiarmada area of the building [and] fitout works at CIÉ Busáras,” said the OPW.

First granted planning permission in 2022, Bus Éireann said the project would seek to preserve the built heritage of the city and be highly sensitive to the “historic fabric” of the building itself.

Originally designed for Córas Iompair Éireann by Irish architect Michael Scott, much of the interior detailing and mosaics came from artist Patrick Scott. Construction began in the 1940s before finishing in 1953 at a cost of £1m.

“It is acknowledged as being the first large modern building of significant architectural merit built in the city,” state original planning documents.

The building is noted as being one of the first modern buildings in Dublin and Europe that attempted to integrate art and architecture. 

In the tender issued this week, the OPW said that, during the works, the upper floors used by the Department of Social Protection will be fully vacated but operations at Busáras will continue uninterrupted “in all scenarios”.

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Objectives of the project including providing a fit-for-purpose building with well-equipped facilities along with ensuring “the survival of the building”.

The works will include conservation of the original doors and original fixtures and finishes such as the mosaics, as well as repurposing the Eblana Theatre at the basement level of Busáras to provide meeting and conferencing facilities.