Conservation projects are often described as a balancing act: respect the heritage, deliver the modern brief, and keep the programme on track. But balance doesn’t happen by accident - it happens through structure.

Glandore House in Monkstown is a textbook example. A Ruskinian Gothic building with protected structure status, it is now being transformed into a flagship childcare facility. For the client, success meant creating a state-of-the-art crèche while preserving the building’s architectural significance.

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The challenge

Every decision carried tension: heritage officers wanted fabric preserved; childcare operators needed modern services, safeguarding, and external play space. Add programme pressure and cost constraints, and the potential for friction was high.

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Our role

Foundation stepped in to embed project management across design, conservation, and client teams. Our job was to make trade-offs structured, not reactive. By keeping conservation priorities visible while aligning them with operational requirements, we ensured decisions were made quickly, transparently, and in a way that protected both heritage and delivery.

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What makes the difference

• Clarity of priorities – agreeing early what must be preserved and what can adapt.
  
• Integrated forums – conservation voices at the same table as cost and programme.
  
• Proactive cadence – addressing uncertainties early, rather than deferring until they cause disruption.
  
  

Beyond Glandore

We’ve seen the same dynamics at play in other regeneration projects like St. Patrick’s Centre in Kilkenny, where heritage buildings are being re-purposed alongside more modern blocks. The principle is the same: success comes from embedding process and foresight, not leaving decisions to the last minute.

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The outcome

With Glandore House, the result will be a facility that is both heritage-sensitive and future-ready- delivered with pace, clarity, and accountability.

Conservation doesn’t have to slow delivery of the project. With structured project management, it becomes a strength - bringing heritage and modern use together in a way that adds value, not risk.