Dún Laoghaire’s new dlr Lexicon library is the most significant piece of public infrastructure to be built in the town for more than 100 years, guests at the official opening were told.

The library has a floor space of 6,327sq m, 80,000 items in its adult and junior library, 40,000 book store items and more than 60 computers for public use.

Cllr Marie Baker, cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said she felt it “fair to say that this iconic building attracted a great deal of attention during its construction, both positive and negative.” But its popularity since it opened last December spoke “more eloquently than I can about the success of this building.”

Discussion

She recalled discussion on building the library began in the mid-90s as it was believed “a facility like this would be a crucial element of a programme of regeneration in Dún Laoghaire and a means to increase access to the arts for the general public.”

In 2006 it was agreed by the council to hold an international architectural competition and to make funding available for a new central library and cultural centre. The competition, organised by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, was won by Cork-based architects Carr, Cotter and Naessens .

Cllr Baker noted “the entire design and construction team were Irish companies.” She observed that “now, almost 20 years since our journey began, we have a truly stunning and quite extraordinary public space.”

Political football

Architect Louise Cotter commented on how the dlr Lexicon had “become a bit of a political football” during last year’s local election campaign when there were calls for it to be demolished. “But we hardly noticed as we were trying to get it finished,” she said.

The building’s scale was dictated by its planned uses, she said, but its design was “inspired by the site.” Towards the entrance “it is lower, in tune with the town” whereas from the sea it complemented the church towers and steeples nearby.

Generally, she said, “we took the long view.” It was a major civic building, “like a town hall.”

As for its approximate €30 million cost she remarked “you wouldn’t build a road for that.”

In his poem Beyond This, written for the occasion, writer in residence at the dlr Lexicon Colm Keegan recited:

“The gift of this place transcends time, and distance

Its gift is our potential, and potentially infinite.”