In 2015 we obtained planning permission to renovate the existing clubhouse and construction of a new sports hall. The existing clubhouse was used as a dressing room for the Tourmakeady GAA team and was in very poor condition with outdated facilities. David and Robert Lally live in the Parish of Tourmakeady and are heavily involved in the development of the community. David is a secretary of Tourmakeady GAA Club and together with the GAA committee, money was raised through a number of fundraising events for the development of the GAA Club. Money was also received through grants, local businesses, individuals and many locals also provided free labour.
The brief was to design a centre that would incorporate a sports hall that could be used for all sports such as soccer, basketball and badminton. Due to the poor condition of the current dressing rooms, an upgrade for this was essential. The addition of a gym would also greatly benefit the community.
As part of this project, we undertook all the architectural and structural design work. We drafted up all the architectural plans and elevations and submitted them to the Council. Once planning was approved we were responsible for all the structural design work which included the foundation pads, floor slab, steel portal frame, 9m high reinforced concrete skills wall, in-situ stairs, all the lintels and steel beams throughout the building. We also worked on the carpark design and drainage along with the new pitch design and drainage system.
Our Engineers set out the building foundations, holding down bolts for the portal frame, kerbing for a carpark, line marking for a carpark, new pitch positioning. We managed the tender documents and specifications for various sections of the building including the steel structure, skills wall and main clubhouse refurbishment. Our team also worked on the fabrication drawings for the steel structure and provided a 3D model for the fabrication. David was heavily involved in the finishes of the building from the exterior, floors and insulation.
Once the project was complete and signed off our engineers provided fire and disability access certifications for the sports hall.
The new Sports Centre was officially opened on Sunday 28th May 2016 by Micheal Ring and is used by locals, sports teams and Coláiste Mhuire Secondary School who provided some of their land for the construction of the new training pitch.
