The MACRO Centre
A new Community Resource Centre designed by Derek Tynan Architect and built for Dublin City Council by Rohcon as part of the Historic Area Rejuvenation Project, was completed in 2001.- Location: HARP Area
- Architect: Derek Tynan Architects
- Completed: 2001
A striking Community Resource Centre designed by Derek Tynan Architects and built for Dublin City Council by Rohcon as part of the Historic Area Rejuvenation Project, was completed in 2001. The building, situated on a site at the corner of Green Street and North King Street, is a community facility in the Markets area of Dublin close to the city centre for use by local community groups.
During the preparation of the site, two phases of archaeological assessment were carried out. The results of which revealed skeletons across the site, which indicated that the site was once a burial ground. The assessment revealed the skeletons overlain with rubble fill layer containing human bone. A limited archaeological excavation was then conducted in the autumn of 1998 where 18 skeletons were revealed. Initial examinations dated them to the late seventeenth/ early eighteenth centuries. To facilitate the new building, the foundations were designed in such a way as to minimise building impact on the under lying skeletal remains. An archaeological excavation was carried out on site and over 600 skeletons were excavated. The scientific analysis of the remains is ongoing with much important historical information being derived from the find.
The building became operational early 2002 with a number of local community projects relocating from their premises in Beresford Street to the new modern centre in Green Street. These included, the MACRO Community Development Programme, The Senior Citizens Service, The Markets Area Youth Service, the Local Employment Service, the Snug Counselling Service and the Markets Area Men’s Group. A Computer Training Facility, George’s Hill Community Employment Project and a Citizens Information Centre also occupy the building. The building is organised around a central space, an extension of the public realm of the street in materiality and quality of light.