15-storey Prism gets the go ahead

THINGS are looking up in Cork as another skyscraper has been given the green light for development.

The €20 million ‘Prism’ office development has been approved by city planners and will be developed on a brownfield site just yards from the Parnell Place bus station.

The 15-storey, glass-fronted office will be triangular in shape and is inspired by the world famous ‘Flatiron’ building in New York.

Tower Holdings Group, owned by Kevin O’Sullivan, will oversee the development of the proposed ‘Prism’ commercial building at Parnell Place, which will include 6,000 sq m of offices when finished. 

In addition to its office space, the Prism will include a rooftop terrace for staff, as well as a glass canopy, which will oversail Deane Street at third flood level. From the third floor up, the offices will overhang the street by approximately two metres.

Mr O’Sullivan is also part of the group seeking to develop another skyscraper on the Port of Cork Custom House site nearby.

The approval of planning is the latest in a series of major moves in the city.

An Bord Pleanála gave the go-ahead for a 25-storey apartment development in Mahon last week, which will be Ireland’s tallest building when finished. In recent weeks, planners also gave the go-ahead to the eight-storey Penrose Dock project from JCD.

Work has also started on the 11-storey HQ Development on Horgan’s Quay, with a spokesperson for the project confirming they are on site and conducting surveys ahead of demolition. 

Planners also recently sought further information on the nearby seven-storey budget hotel proposed for the former Flor Griffin and Maher Sports buildings next to the bus station.