Dramatic glass extension to historic building in this Kildare town
The long-awaited new Shackleton Experience facility, which cost around €2m, is due to open in October.
Here’s a sneak peek at the dramatic glass extension - shaped like an iceberg - that now rises from the beautifully restored Town Hall, a 300-year-old building in Emily Square, right in the heart of Athy town centre in Co Kildare.
This striking new feature not only echoes the icebergs of Antarctica in a fitting tribute to legendary polar explorer Ernest H. Shackleton, but also floods the Shackleton Experience exhibition building with natural light.
The long-awaited new Shackleton Experience facility, which cost around €2m, is due to open in October.
The world class experience is dedicated to the life of Kildare-born Ernest H. Shackleton, polar explorer.
Work began in 2023 on the alterations and extension of Athy Heritage Centre to provide for the Shackleton Museum and exhibition spaces.
The project on Emily Square included reconfiguration, refurbishment and extension of the existing, protected three-storey building.
The designs included a two-storey glass and steel extension to the south of building by a specialist designer and sub-contractor.
Internal re-configuration featured the removal of a mezzanine, a lift and two stairways.