Client
NDFA acting as Agent for the Courts Service of Ireland
Location
Cork, Mullingar, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Ireland
Courts Bundle 1
Ireland's Courts Bundle 1 PPP brought seven courthouses across the country into the 21st century - from new-build facilities in Drogheda and Letterkenny to the sensitive restoration of five protected historic structures. Across 36,000m2 and 31 courtrooms, these buildings now deliver improved access to justice while preserving the civic heritage of their towns and cities.
Financial Close
December 2015
Construction Period
2015 - 2018
Concession Period
25 years
Handback
between 2042 and 2043
Client
NDFA acting as Agent for the Courts Service of Ireland
Location
Cork, Mullingar, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Ireland
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis
Consortium
Courts Bundle Ltd
Engineering Procurement and Construction
BAM Building Ltd
Operations and Maintenance
BAM FM Ireland Ltd
Capital Value
€150m
Partnering with Ireland's Courts Service to transform judicial infrastructure across seven communities
In 2015, the Courts Service of Ireland appointed BAM Courts Bundle Ltd - with Invesis as sole investor and SPV manager - to design, build, finance and maintain seven courthouses across Ireland under a 25-year PPP contract.
The project addressed a long-standing deficit in Ireland's judicial infrastructure. Five of the seven sites incorporated protected historic structures requiring expert conservation alongside new extensions. Two entirely new courthouses were built in Drogheda and Letterkenny, while existing buildings in Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick and Mullingar were refurbished and extended. All seven facilities opened for service between June 2017 and July 2018.
As sole sponsor and investor, Invesis played a central role in coordinating the project from financial close through to construction completion, with BAM Building Ltd delivering construction and BAM FM Ireland Ltd providing FM services across the 25-year concession. Handback is due between 2042 and 2043.
Using digital innovation and sensitive design to deliver fit-for-purpose courts for the 21st century
The project required careful innovation to deliver modern, high-security facilities within or alongside historically protected structures.
BAM Building made comprehensive use of BIM throughout design and construction, enabling detailed conservation planning across multiple complex sites. Immersive walk-through videos were used during the bid to demonstrate the end-user experience for judges, juries, custody staff and the public - a first for a project of this type in Ireland. Three specialist architect teams - Wilson Architecture, A&D Wejchert and CCH Architects - developed bespoke designs for each courthouse.
A PPP-driven helpdesk system, fully integrated with BIM and the CAFM platform, was deployed to manage contractual performance across all seven sites - going well beyond what competitors proposed.
Reducing energy, rewilding green spaces and preserving Ireland's civic heritage across seven communities
- A continuous improvement programme with the Courts Service reduced gas consumption by 9% and electricity by 11% against targets in 2023, delivering combined savings of approximately 98,000 euros over two years.
- Boiler optimisers trialled at Letterkenny achieved an 11% reduction in energy requirement and are now being rolled out across all seven courthouses.
- EV charging points have been installed at four facilities, with a PV panel feasibility study underway at Limerick.
- A rewilding initiative is under way across all courthouse grounds, seeding green areas with wildflowers and native grasses to support local biodiversity.
- Five protected historic structures were sensitively restored, preserving the civic heritage of their towns - including Mullingar Courthouse, which has stood since 1824.
