Located in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, the former Bank headquarters was completely transformed from a 1970s-era sterile, Modernist office block into a flexible, adaptable, open, and accessible contemporary work plaza. A central atrium anchors the campus and creates an activated heart that stitches the buildings together to drive a deeper sense of connectivity. Social spaces where people can come together––for events, meetings, dining, etc.––are positioned around the atrium to establish a constant and consistent draw to within for employees and visitors alike.

Meta Dublin's Ballsbridge address situates the campus alongside city residents, roughly 20 international embassies, and an established technology hub––with neighbors such as Amazon, Google, and Stripe. As such, it was important that the new international headquarters send a bold message about its excitement for the future, vision for a vibrant culture, and commitment to collaboration. This mission fueled every aspect of the six-year redevelopment project––from sustainable construction practices and thoughtful architectural interventions to the activation of the campus itself.

Built out in the late 1970s, the existing site was disjointed and insular in its organization. STUDIOS and Meta developed a master plan that reshaped the pattern of circulation for more connectivity and permeability, providing a creative platform for community engagement. The program consolidated spaces for dining and collaboration at the atrium's base, running areas for the concentrative work of the Meta staff across the building's five upper floors. The design team mitigated the acoustical challenges with this composition through the careful selection and positioning of materials and plan elements, which simultaneously resolved the potential for solar glare. This approach allowed the upper floors to maintain both visual and physical openness to the whole––with no walls or glass separation––fostering true engagement between all its users, active or heads down.

By grounding the broader workplace program around the improved atrium, STUDIOS created a much-needed sense of vibrancy that the modern office can sometimes lack. The atrium's ever-changing nature creates constant interest and intrigue; there's always some new draw to discover, which keeps Meta staff and their friends (who are always welcome for a visit) coming back for more.

As part of the re-massing of the 14-acre site, considerable attention was also paid to its greenscape. BSLA Landscape Architects' design aimed to complement the arrival experience STUDIOS envisioned with the architectural addition that filters through to the new atrium. Reinforcing the existing landscape character of the surrounding neighborhood, lush foliage now lines the perimeter of Meta's footprint, enveloping a new interior courtyard. The reinvented garden plaza includes an exercise track for running and walking, lawn games, and seating areas linked by meandering, tree-lined walkways. The new courtyard sets Meta apart from other urban headquarters in Dublin, while simultaneously inspiring greater community and deeper collaboration through nature.

The materials and finishes selected further echo the sentiment of openness and collaboration throughout dedicated work areas. The office buildings themselves, as well as the internal link bridges that connect them, are fully curtained in a double-glazed facade and capped with generously planted rooftop terrace gardens. STUDIOS was thoughtful about its translation of Meta's brand guidelines into the workplace interiors, as well. In the literal sense, light-touch interventions, raw materials, exposed ceilings, and pared down finishes maintain an honesty about the architecture and its past life––including the former basement vault, which has been modestly restored as a grown-up play area.