Ballyconnell Market House – Community Enterprise and Tourism Hub
The former Market House is a protected structure at the heart of Ballyconnell, built in 1838 and later used as an Army Barracks. Its careful adaptation has transformed it into a vibrant Community, Enterprise and Tourism Hub, breathing new life into one of the town’s most significant historic buildings.
The completed building provides a flexible, multipurpose community space on the ground floor and a variety of office accommodation at first-floor level. A contemporary rear extension provides ancillary support facilities, including accessible sanitary accommodation, with a passenger lift ensuring the building is fully accessible throughout.
Sustainability was central to the design approach. Rather than demolish and rebuild, we prioritised the retention and upgrade of the existing historic fabric, reducing demolition waste, embodied carbon, and the demand for new raw materials. Complementary green technologies were integrated throughout, including breathable calcium silicate insulation to the external walls, acoustic and thermal upgrades to floors and roof, and an air-to-water heat pump serving the building’s energy needs.
The result is a building that honours its past while meeting the needs of its community for generations to come.
