Global US internet company AOL is to move its Irish offices from Citywest to D8, writes JACK FAGAN

THE Irish subsidiary of TimeWarner’s AOL is to relocate from Citywest business park in Dublin to the newly developed Heuston South Quarter (HSQ) opposite Heuston railway station.

The company is understood to have agreed a rent in excess of €269 per sq m (€25 per sq ft) for 2,322sq m (25,000sq ft) on five of the 12 floors of the Brunel block which stands alongside the equally impressive Eircom headquarters.

Staff in the American company test and localise applications for a number of AOL’s websites and services.

Designed by Anthony Reddy Associates, the block has a sweeping curved glass facade and will overlook the planned one-acre Grand Canal Square within HSQ.

The building has a net internal floor area of 7,080sq m (76,208sq ft) and 75 car parking spaces. AOL is likely to be paying an annual rent of €2,000 for each of 25 to 30 spaces.

AOL’s decision to move to HSQ will be seen as a something of a setback for Citywest, which is currently developing four new office blocks along the front of the park with a combined floor area of 13,935sq m (150,000sq ft).

HSQ has a strong appeal for workers because of it convenience to the city centre, its mixed use and its strategic location opposite the railway station and close to a Luas stop.

Starbucks already has a coffee shop on site and Superquinn is to open a 2,043sq m (21,990sq ft) convenience store next October.

There are also plans to provide a 260-bedroom hotel on the site, where 300 apartments have already been completed.

About half of them have been sold, another block of them has been rented and more are occupied on a rent-to-purchase scheme.

HSQ is being developed on a joint venture basis between Rhatigan Developments and Goodbody Stockbrokers. In 2005 the partnership paid €79 million for the 8.2-acre site which adjoins the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham.

The site will also have a museum which will be handed over to the Office of Pubic Works.

The joint letting agents are HT Meagher O’Reilly and CBRE.