Limerick City and County Council is pleased to announce the appointment of a multidisciplinary design team for the development of a Design and Innovation Hub at 35-39 Nicholas Street, known as The Fireplace Site.
Waterford-based dhb Architects have been awarded the multidisciplinary design team contract following a tender process. This marks the commencement of a major project aimed at reducing vacancy and generating footfall along Nicholas Street and the wider King’s Island area.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran signed THRIVE grant documents just before Christmas. Councillors from the Metropolitan District had approved Part 8 planning in March 2025.
Construction is set to begin in late 2026.
Project Background
This landmark project will see the regeneration of 35–39 Nicholas Street, incorporating the surviving medieval fireplace and neighbouring buildings into a new educational and innovative Design Hub. The Forge Design Factory will provide space for artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and visitors, including studios, exhibition and retail areas, and a café/restaurant, with the aim of creating a vibrant destination at the heart of King’s Island.
The project is funded through THRIVE - the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme which allocated more than €6.5 million in funding in September 2025 to transform this historic site on Nicholas Street. THRIVE is a national regeneration programme led by the Government of Ireland and cofunded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
RELATED ARTICLE: €6.5Million THRIVE Funding Secured for Nicholas Street Fireplace Site
Project Description
The Forge Design Factory will:
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Provide studios for artists, makers and entrepreneurs
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Offer exhibition and retail spaces
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Deliver education, innovation and community engagement programmes
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Provide a café/restaurant and outdoor area
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Champion sustainability, circular design, and digital transformation
Benefits
The transformation of the Fireplace Site and neighbouring structures will deliver immediate and lasting benefits for the local community by breathing new life into one of Limerick’s most historic streets.
The Forge Design Factory, with new studios, exhibition space, and a café integrated into the historic fabric of the site, will help reestablish Nicholas Street as a vibrant, welcoming place to live, work, and visit, contributing to the wider regeneration of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating:
“We promised to make 2026 a year of momentum delivered on the foundations laid in 2025. I welcome this significant step forward in delivering The Forge Design Factory. I congratulate the team for being ready to move so quickly and so soon after I signed the grant documents in December. This transformative project will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of King’s Island and Nicholas Street, helped by the new public realm proposals we have been pursuing in parallel for the street. I now look forward to seeing existing design ideas from dhb Architects as we breathe new life into this historic part of our city - recognising its heritage value and its unrealised economic and cultural potential.”
Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery said:
“The enhancement of Nicholas Street and preservation of the historic Fireplace Site is something local residents, business and councillors have long called for. This development will achieve both these aims, while also opening doors for creativity, jobs and community connection in the heart of Limerick’s Medieval Quarter.”
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly says:
“The appointment of the multidisciplinary design team is an important milestone in delivering a flagship regeneration project for Limerick’s medieval quarter. The Forge Design Factory will seamlessly integrate heritage conservation with modern design and innovation, helping to activate a long-vacant site and create a vibrant hub that strengthens the cultural and economic life of the city.”