The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has selected a shortlist of five companies to develop its U2 Tower
It has selected four Irish parties: Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore Properties, a consortium of Treasury Holdings and Sisk, Sean Dunne’s Mountbrook Homes and the River II partnership. The non-Irish developer on the shortlist is global construction company Royal BAM Group.
The 32-storey tower is located in the Grand Canal Dock area and is named after the Irish rock group because it will have a recording studio in one of the top storeys in the tower. The Docklands Authority will retain ownership of the tower.
In the second stage of the process, the chosen developer will have to provide further plans to develop the Britain Quay site next door, which has been assembled by the authority since the original tender. The site is at the confluence of the three waterways – the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal, and will have to complement the U2 Tower.
Paul Maloney, chief executive officer of the Dublin Docklands Authority, said: ‘We are delighted with the calibre of teams engaged and to see the involvement of eminent architects, including Foster & Partners, Rafael Vinoly and other internationally recognised architects.
' We are confident that the consortia selected will deliver an enduring architectural landmark, which will be acknowledged in Ireland and around the world.’