HP Ireland this week announced the formal commencement of the construction phase of its new 89,000 sq. ft. office building in Ballybrit, Galway, at a ceremony attended by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.
Construction of the new office on the existing HP site in Ballybrit was announced last year by HP. The new building will be a modern office building, built with flexibility and environmental sustainability features and fitted out to support the needs of HP employees into the future. The office will be dedicated to software research and development, cloud technology and business services with capacity for up to 700 staff.
The project is expected to be one of the largest construction projects in Galway in recent times, and is likely to create up to 200 construction jobs.
The existing building on the site dates back to 1973, when Digital established its manufacturing facility in Ireland and the building was opened by Liam Cosgrave, the then Taoiseach. With the transformation and expansion of HP’s operations since then—more than 300 jobs have been added in the last three years alone—and with employees now working in areas of software research and development, cloud technology and business services, a new state-of-the-art facility was required.
“Galway continues to be a great source of IT talent that can drive future innovation for HP,” said John Hinshaw, executive vice president, Global Technology and Operations, HP. “We are pleased to be investing in this site and getting construction underway and I look forward to an even stronger presence for HP in Galway.”
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD said: “I am very pleased to be present for the commencement of this significant investment by HP in a new state-of-the-art facility in Galway. This is a vote of confidence in HP's Irish operations and is a welcome signal of the company's commitment to the area. HP was one of the first multinational tech companies to come here and Ireland has since gone from strength to strength in attracting investment from the tech sector. Through the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government will continue to prioritise support for sectors which can realise jobs growth and measures to enhance Ireland's attractiveness as a location for inward investment.”
“With this investment, HP is redefining its future in Galway for the next 40 years,” said Mark Gantly, managing director, HP Galway. “We are continuing to strengthen the footprint of HP in Galway through continued investment and transformation.”
Welcoming today’s announcement Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “HP is a global provider of IT products, solutions and services, with a long history in Ireland, originally setting up here in Galway in 1970. The construction of a new state of the art facility demonstrates HP’s continued commitment to the future of the company’s presence in Ireland. I would like to congratulate HP on this important milestone and wish the company the continued support of IDA Ireland into the future.”
From start to finish, the project involves local suppliers from the west of Ireland. Construction is by MJ Conroy Group, project managers are AECOM, architects are Taylors Architects, the consultant engineers are ARUP and RPS, and other sub-contractors are also drawn from the local area. Construction is due for completion in February 2015.
“We are very happy to partner with HP on this excellent and worthwhile opportunity,” said Noel Conroy, project director, MJ Conroy. “This site will be a landmark office building in Galway and one of the largest developments of its kind recent years which will help attract new foreign direct investment into the region. Its development represents the strong commitment of both our firm and HP to the region. We are optimistic about the future of the Irish commercial real estate market and are actively looking for other opportunities in the market.”
