Galway’s new arthouse cinema is a tour de force for king and moffatt Designed by dePaor Architects and built by JJ Rhatigan, the new Pálás Cinema in Galway is garnering much-deserved recognition for its innovative design and impressive construction.
The cinema sits on the site of a Georgian merchant’s house near the Spanish Arch in Galway and comprises a new four-storey over basement building with three cinemas. The basement houses Screen 1, which is the largest cinema with 161 seats, while Screen 2 on the second floor has 67 seats. Screen 3 sits on the top floor and has 93 seats. The cinema, which has been described as a ‘cultural hub’ for the city, also boasts a bar and ancillary facilities. Constructed of moulded concrete, this wasn’t your everyday electrical installation for M&E contractor, King & Moffatt.
The electrical package included alarms (including fire and intruder), cameras, lightning protection systems, lighting and every other electrical requirement that the project demanded. Constructed with mass concrete, the building presented John Moffatt and his team with very specific challenges.
“The design of the Pálás Cinema is very unusual but from an electrical point of view, we were quite restricted. When it came to running containment, we were restricted; everything had to be concealed as much as possible. We had to be a bit more creative but that’s something we thoroughly enjoyed,” said John.
The lighting element, which King & Moffatt, also had responsibility for, was equally unusual.
“The design of the cinema has a very raw feel and the lighting had to carry that austere impression throughout the building. We also supplied the exterior signage; we got a lighting specialist from Dublin to do that. The exterior signage is a lovely touch to the building. The lettering, which spells out the cinema’s name, is cast into the sides of the building. That was something we wouldn’t have come across too often before so it was a positive experience.”
Internally, the building is a dizzying mix of stairs, nooks and passageways. “It’s a highly unusual design. You’d nearly get lost going around it! That design meant the electrical installation was far from straightforward but excellent collaboration on site allowed us to get the job done.”
Nothing about the Pálás Cinema was ordinary; the building’s location beside the Docks meant the area was under water on a couple of occasions.
“Pulling all the elements together and trying to meet the complex brief was a challenge. In saying that, the architects were excellent and were willing to work with us to ensure the highest standard of finish was achieved. We were also working in a very confined space which meant every step of the process had to be discussed and planned down to the very last detail.” Deciding where to position distribution boards or indeed any element of the electrical installation required serious planning but the fact that King & Moffatt had worked with several of the sub- contractors in the past, helped.
“There was no room for uncertainty,” added John. “That existing relationship definitely helped to smooth the way and ensure an excellent job was achieved by everyone. It doesn’t matter what job you’re on or how complex the requirements are – if you don’t have a good relationship with the foreman and the architect and if everyone isn’t working together, it can leave the job very difficult.”
The Pálás Cinema is a particularly nice job to add to King & Moffatt’s already impressive project list. It has been hailed around the world for its beautiful finish and innovative design and has been shortlisted for the 2018 World Architecture Awards where it will go up against renowned projects including Zhuhai Opera House in China and the Wadden Sea Centre in Denmark.
“We’re extremely proud of what we, along with the rest of the teams, achieved.”
King & Moffatt Building Services, Boyle Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon N41 Y162.
T: +353 71 962 0378
E: info@kingmoffatt.com
W: www.kingmoffatt.com
Sub Contractors
Avaried range of market- leading electrical products was supplied by Peter Curran Electric to Pálás Cinema project.
As a trusted and valued supplier to King and Moffatt for several years and as one of the country’s leading independent electrical wholesalers, Peter Curran Electric was able to provide a complete electrical solution including all installation materials, from containment which included cable trays, trunking and baskets, to all the cabling requirements on the project (fire alarm cable, power cable and control cable). Peter Curran Electric also supplied all the switches and sockets for the project, along with emergency lighting and general lighting.
A straightforward project for Peter and the team, the lighting requirements had to meet specific criteria set by the design team. The team at Peter Curran Electric, together with John Moffatt at King and Moffatt, created the ideal solution for this project by utilising a blend of technical experience, product knowledge, aesthetic imagination and energy lighting creativity. The lighting design created an environment that is enhanced by aesthetically pleasing, artificial lighting.
“We supplied products to the site on an ongoing basis,” said Peter. “We had to ensure our deliveries were made on time in order to facilitate the build process and avoid delays; that wasn’t easy considering the site’s location.”
Peter Curran Electric has worked on a diverse range of projects with King and Moffatt for many years. That excellent working relationship helped ensure that the Pálás Cinema job and indeed every other project that the two companies have collaborated on, ran smoothly.
“King and Moffatt is a highly valued customer of ours. We enjoy a very close working relationship with them; they know how we operate and in turn, we’re well used to the high standards they maintain. We look forward to continuing that relationship into the future.”
Peter Curran Electric has been operating for over 12 years. With a lifetime’s experience in the electrical trade, Peter and his experienced staff of 30 have built up an impressive portfolio of diverse projects right across the country. The company’s enormous product range is available from a state- of-the-art facility in Galway.
Peter Curran Electric Ltd, Unit 18, Glenrock Business Park, Ballybane, Galway.
T: 00353 (0)91 385700
E: sales@curranelec.ie
W: www.curranelec.ie
Aspecialist in the fire, security and electrical industry, Rostek’s expert installed the fire alarm system, the disabled refuge system, the access control system, intruder alarms and the CCTV at the Pálás Cinema.
The company has been operating for the past 12 years and carries out design, installation and maintenance contracts. As one of the largest fire and security/electrical companies in the west of Ireland, the company has now opened a new office in Dublin to provide services nationwide. When it came to fire protection at the cinema, Rostek used an advanced 4 loop panel and also opted for Apollo protocol. Only systems of the highest grade were specified for the project, along with products that not only conformed but exceeded the required regulations.
“We used Aritech IP3500 for the intruder alarm and the CCTV was the HiKVision camera system. In terms of reliability, quality and usability, the systems we used for this project really were top of the range,” said Fergus Myles, Managing Director at Rostek. A collection of passageways and corridors, the Pálás Cinema’s innovative design made electrical installations that bit trickier.
“There were certainly some very specific challenges associated with this project, particularly in the theatres. Ensuring the proper fire and smoke detection systems were installed correctly was difficult due to the use of curtains in front of the cinema screens and across the ceilings. That was something that required a lot of discussion with the designers.”
Fergus and the team at Rostek were tasked with ensuring the systems they installed met the required detection requirements. “We achieved that through collaboration on site with the design teams, which led to the installation of strategically placed beams. It was a challenge for us but we’re well used to coming up with solutions for complex problems.”
Rostek has been at the cutting edge of new technologies within the fire and security system industry for several years. Alongside fire and security systems, it also supplies automated gates, barriers, roller doors, electric doors, fire extinguishers and supression systems, AV solutions, emergency lighting and specialist electrical testing.
Rostek Fire & Security Systems, 55a Briarhill Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway. Bolton House, Aughrim Lane Business Complex, Aughrim Street, Dublin 7, Ireland.
T: 00353 (0)91 485 100
E: info@rostek.ie/Repairs@rostek.ie
W: www.rostek.ie
Limerick-based data comms products supplier, Techpart, stocks and supplies a wide selection of structured cabling products to clients throughout Ireland. The company supplied an end-to- end Cat 6 data cabling system to the innovative Pálás Cinema in Galway and is proud to have been involved in such a prestigious project.
The cinema is just one of a number of projects that Techpart has partnered with King and Moffatt on. Others include Roscommon County Council new offices, Tullamore Dew Distillery, the Meath Hospital and many more.
Founded in 2002, Techpart Ltd is a privately owned Irish distributor of networking, audio visual and home automation markets. Products include network cabling, communications cabinets, switches, routers and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The company installs and supplies an extensive range of products sourced from market-leading manufacturers that are known for their high quality yet competitively priced products. Based in Limerick, products and services from Techpart are accessible nationwide, with a next-day delivery guarantee.
Techpart is dedicated to supplying high quality, high performance solutions to diverse projects around the country and also prides itself on the highest level of customer service. Techpart enjoya a high level of repeat business, which they put down to the level of care with which they approach each job. Techpart’s diverse range of products is particularly suited to installers, manufacturers, IT providers, electrical wholesalers and end-users (both large and small). The company has extensive experience and expertise in data installations and data cabling solutions and also boasts a background in working with all aspects of network components and LAN solutions such as CAT 5e, CAT 6 and Cat 6a.
Techpart’s trained staff can also install, test and certify a complete copper or fibre cable installation and can provide a fibre pre-termination service which allows for easier installation.
Techpart prides itself on only supplying the most innovative products from market-leading manufacturers and worked hard to ensure the cabling supplied to the Cinema met these high standards.
Techpart, Unit 15, East Link Business Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick
T: 00353 (0)61 603974
E: sales@techpart.ie
W: www.techpart.ie
Arange of general electrical materials were supplied by Dungannon Electrical Wholesale to the Pálás Cinema in Galway. The well-respected company provides a host of efficient and durable products from market-leading manufacturers including cables, earthing equipment, stainless steel products, bracketing, LED lighting, switchgear and wiring accessories. All items supplied to Pálás were of the highest quality and the electrical products from Dungannon Electrical Wholesale were no different.
A family owned business, Dungannon Electrical Wholesale opened in 2000 and has already established itself as a successful business in the local area. In 2014, the company launched its e-commerce store containing its entire inventory, allowing customers to easily and seamlessly order items for collection or delivery via their computer or mobile phone. A high level of customer service is the underlying ethos behind the company and something all members of staff take very seriously. The company aims to provide all customers with competitive prices as well as friendly staff and a reliable service.
A prompt and efficient delivery service ensures customers receive their order in a timely fashion. Same day or next day delivery is available to customers in Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, depending on their location. If an order is urgent, the company will do its utmost to ensure it reaches its destination when it’s needed.
A prestigious project for the city of Galway, the Pálás Cinema has been lauded for both its design and for its meticulous build. All teams involved, from the designers and main contractor to the sub-contractors on the project, were tasked with upholding the highest levels of workmanship and completing the job to the highest standards. As one of the electrical suppliers on the job, Dungannon Electrical Wholesale was held to the same standards. The company supplied only the highest grade products from market-leading manufacturers in a prompt fashion, allowing the build to proceed on time. An expert team at Dungannon Electrical Wholesale ensures customers leave with the right product for the job. The company is delighted to have been involved with a prestigious project like the Pálás Cinema and looks forward to working with King and Moffatt in the future.
Dungannon Electrical Wholesale, 199 Killyman Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, BT71 6RR.
T: 0044 (0)28 8772 9787
E: info@dungannonelectrical.co.uk
W: www.dungannonelectrical.co.uk
