Kelly and Cogan Architects were appointed by Aughrim St and District Credit Union in 2003 to refurbish their premises at the junction of Manor St, Aughrim St and Prussia St as a new headquarters building for the Credit Union.

At an early stage it became apparent that these premises were overly constrained by their narrow frontage and the Board of the Credit Union decided to redevelop a premises at 44 Manor Street instead.

The site is located in an important historical area that we considered to be architecturally sensitive, within a terrace facing west onto a historic public space, and is adjacent to a number of important protected structures to the immediate south.

Our priority in the design of the new premises was to retain the essential streetscape qualities of the existing structures – a shop with residence overhead – and to incorporate the roof form, materials, chimneys and the three-bay format of the existing building on site.

The interior is dominated by a new double height banking hall carved out of the space behind the low  entrance lobby.

The banking hall is the hub of the building and the upper rooms and corridors are all connected to it visually.

Private offices for staff are located in the rear return and the Board Room has been located in the principal room at first floor level above the entrance; with views onto the public street and into the banking hall.

 Large glazed Rooflights allow light to spill through the building via the banking hall.