General Description

Part of an overall project that saw the delivery of a new Male B Wing, Kitchen & Laundry and ancillary services, the Limerick Female Prison project was recently completed and officially opened in October 2023 and has accommodation for a minimum of 56 female prisoners. It will increase capacity across the prison estate, as well as providing an environment that promotes rehabilitation, helps reduce reoffending and helps to build stronger, safer communities.

Designed with a focus on rehabilitation and normalisation reflecting contemporary design standards, Limerick Female Prison aims to offer a range of educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs to equip inmates with the necessary tools for a law-abiding life after their release.

The accommodation comprises of a mixture of bedroom units, some apartment style units and a mother and baby unit, all with individual en-suites. The facility also provides a multi flexible visits regime to facilitate the provision of a variety of In-Reach services such as mental health services and addiction counselling. A prisoner canteen and gymnasium is also included in the new facility.

The site is a triangular corner of the campus, with objectives to maximize usable internal floor and external amenity space in keeping with the design principles of creating a safe therapeutic space and supportive regime.  As a result, the building’s form engages with the high boundary walls resulting in an introverted, internal garden courtyard which acts as the core of the building. It provides amenity, a high-quality landscape and direct access to daylight for the residential and association spaces.

The women accommodated in this new facility have full access to all supports and services required while in custody. The needs of the female prisoner’s health and wellbeing will be addressed with the inclusion of the healthcare suite with dentistry, medical assessment and consultation rooms.

The construction of the female prison facility utilised a precast building frame and steel roof. The facility promotes autonomy, individuality and wellbeing through bright open areas and expansive living spaces. All areas of the female facility are finished to a high standard while maintaining IPS security requirements. The female facility consists of the prison gatelock, visitor reception, staff and visitor kitchen and canteen, visit rooms, prisoner reception complete with X-ray scanners, prisoner cells, workshop, gym, recreation area, medical rooms, Irish Prison Service office areas, plant room, and control room.

The project was delivered within budget.

Key Challenges

  • Delivery of the design concept of innovation by removing the harshness of traditional prison design
  • Prison Security
  • Delivery of Smart Technology
  • Introducing light and space in circulation area
  • Provision of enhancing work training, education visitors facilities
  • Integration of services and systems into the existing prison infrastructure
  • Construction during the Covid pandemic and associated site shut downs
  • Material inflation demands

Project Features

  • Promoting rehabilitation environment
  • Mother and baby unit
  • Visitor reception
  • Staff and visitor kitchen and canteen
  • Visit rooms
  • Prisoner reception complete with X-ray scanners
  • Prisoner modernised cells
  • Workshop
  • Gym
  • Recreation area
  • Medical rooms
  • Irish Prison Service office areas
  • Plant room, and control room

Team

  • Client : Irish Prison Service
  • Service : Public Service
  • Architect : Henry J Lyons
  • Contractor: PJ Hegarty
  • Quantity surveyors : Rogerson Reddan
  • Structural Engineer : Punch Consulting Engineers
  • Total Project Budget : €71.5 million
  • Sustainability Accreditation : BREEAM Very Good
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