Fine Grain Property Begins €10 Million Repositioning of Connaught House with Landmark Sculpture Unveiling

• €10 million repositioning of Connaught House to significantly enhance sustainability, facilities, and occupant wellbeing. 
• Major upgrades to mechanical systems and environmental performance, led by MCA Architects and Baker O’Reilly Consulting engineers.
• New landmark sculpture, Heartfelt by Patrick O’Reilly, unveiled as a symbol of community, creativity, and renewal.

Fine Grain Property, a leading Irish-owned institutional real estate investor, has commenced the transformational repositioning of Connaught House, its landmark commercial office building on the prestigious, tree-lined Burlington Road in Dublin 4. Situated adjacent to the Grand Canal and surrounded by Dublin’s vibrant professional district, Connaught House is poised to become a beacon of sustainability, wellbeing, and architectural excellence. 

In line with its strategy to deliver sustainable, high-performance workplaces, Fine Grain will invest over €10 million to upgrade the building’s environmental credentials, foster biodiversity, and revitalise communal and public spaces for the benefit of tenants and visitors alike.

Architectural Vision and Occupier-Led Design

Leading Dublin architects MCA Architects have been appointed to lead the redevelopment, with a bold vision to reimagine Connaught House as a best-in-class office destination. Sustainability will be at the heart of the redesign, with energy-efficient systems, greener material use, and enhanced occupant comfort core to the project brief.

 A building-wide employee survey—commissioned by Fine Grain Property, fielded by CBRE and now under analysis—will inform the architectural plans to ensure that occupier wellbeing, convenience, and workplace experience are deeply integrated into the reimagined design. Connaught House is currently home to blue-chip tenants including CBRE, law firm Philip Lee, and Macquarie Group’s aviation division, among others.

 Engineering partner Baker O’Reilly will oversee the comprehensive upgrade of plant and mechanical systems, including the replacement of outdated air handling equipment with state-of-the-art technology to significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint and support a more sustainable operational model.

 A New Landmark for Dublin’s Burlington Road

To mark the launch of the repositioning, Fine Grain Property hosted a reception in the building’s atrium and unveiled a striking new sculpture: Heartfelt by renowned Irish sculptor Patrick O’Reilly, presented in collaboration with Gormley’s Fine Art.

The artwork—now permanently installed on the exterior plinth facing Burlington Road—embodies the vitality and creativity that Fine Grain seeks to embed within the future of Connaught House. It also symbolises the building’s new era as a welcoming, community-oriented hub in Dublin’s south city centre. Neighbouring occupiers on Burlington Road include leading multinationals and professional firms, further enhancing the building’s central location within Dublin’s commercial ecosystem.

 Breathing New Life into a Legacy Building

 CEO of Fine Grain Property, Colin MacDonald, commented:

“Together with our team of expert advisors and the community of clients who work at Connaught House, we are breathing new life into this iconic property. Over the coming months, we will deliver a dynamic workplace that reflects the evolving needs of today’s businesses—one with a brand new heart and lungs, and a beautiful presence to welcome the next generation of talent and innovation.”

Patrick O’Reilly, artist behind Heartfelt, added:

“This piece is about connection, emotion, and place. I’m proud to see it become part of Connaught House’s story and a symbol of the positive transformation happening here.”