Green plans for skyscraper
The developers behind the planned 34-story hotel at the Custom House say the building will be as energy efficient as it can be, the Cork Independent has learned.
Plans for the skyscraper will be lodged later this month by Tower Holdings which, if given the go ahead, will see a hotel, retail and tourism and commercial offices built.
Speaking with the Cork Independent on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Tower Holdings said it will be a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB), meaning it will have a very high energy performance.
“There are significant costs surrounding the restoration and repurposing of the existing structures and making good the poor condition of the quay walls. The new build elements will be fully nZEB regulation compliant, using the latest advanced glass coating technologies to ensure highly efficient thermal and aesthetic performance. Heating and cooling will be via heat pump technology, thus ensuring the greenest possible performance of the building.”
The development, which will link the peninsula to the centre of the city while introducing a large public realm for the first time in the history of the site, will feature the restoration of the existing landmark structures and the introduction of a new 34 story hotel tower with unparalleled panoramic views across the city.
The restoration of the custom house will include a new façade over the building’s northern end to create balance to the previous extension on the south.
The bonded warehouses will be opened up for public access, which will include retail units for local entrepreneurs, and a unique cultural experience for locals and tourists alike, representing Cork’s rich history as a port.
The new visitor experience will be completed with the introduction of a micro-distillery at the eastern end of the site. The hotel accommodations will offer spa, swimming pool and gym facilities and at its very top the tower will feature a sky bar and restaurant where visitors can enjoy local produce cuisine while taking in panoramic view of Cork city.
The Custom House Quay project will see the creation of 350 to 400 construction jobs in the short term, with employment on the completed site expected to be in excess of 800 people across hotel, retail, tourism and commercial offices.