The Hibernian Group is looking for a new headquarters for its 1,200 staff, and has apparently narrowed down its search to a 10,500 sq m (113,120 sq ft) in allsbridge built by developer Johnny Ronan. Jack Fagan reports

The Hibernian Group is poised to most of its Irish operations to a new headquarters building at Burlington Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. If the deal goes ahead, it will be the largest office letting in Dublin this year.

Hibernian has apparently narrowed its search down to Connaught House, a lavishly finished block of 10,500 sq m (113,120 sq ft) which has been built by developer Johnny Ronan.

It is the second block in a groundscraper development that replaced Pelican House on Mespil Road, one of Dublin's earliest office buildings.

A spokeswoman for Hibernian admitted yesterday that they were looking for a high quality headquarters but said she was not aware that one had been identified.

Tony O'Loughlin of Jones Lang LaSalle, confirmed that he was advising the company on its property strategy but would only say that they had "looked at a number of projects".

Hibernian, which is part of Aviva plc, is anxious to bring all its 1,200 Dublin-based staff together in a modern working environment. Most of these are based in three adjoining, but not interlinking, buildings on Haddington Road and also in its own block at the corner of Dawson Street and Nassau Street.

The general expectation is that the Haddington Road offices will be sold on.

Connaught House is acknowledged as one of the best quality office developments completed in Dublin in recent years.

It is likely attract a rent of around €484.39 per sq m (€45 per sq ft) but with landlords still having to make concessions because of the oversupplied market (the vacancy rate in Dublin 2 and 4 is still around 7 per cent) a tenant in this case could expect up to two years rent free.

The building is raised on a podium so that a lower ground floor could be slotted in between the lobby level and the 57-space underground car park.

The building is distinguished by a frameless glazed canopied entrance, with a glazed canopy above its revolving doors.

The lobby includes a first for any office building in Dublin - a modern fireplace on its inner wall.

The high specification for the common areas includes Portland flagged floors, granite-floored 21-passenger elevators and wood panelled doors inlaid with walnut and bronze handles.

There are panoramic views in every direction from the two penthouse levels.

Flanking the entrance is Patrick O'Reilly's outsized sculpture of Queen Maeve, holding aloft the severed head of the Tain Bo Cuailnge.

Connaught House and the adjoining block rented to Bank of Ireland Asset Management were designed by Henry J Lyons and Partners.