Dublin Castle Census Exhibition

We were appointed to deliver the full fabrication, production and installation of the National Archives’ landmark 1926 Census Exhibition at Dublin Castle. The exhibition marked the centenary release of the first Census of the Irish Free State.

The project required the delivery of a museum‑grade exhibition environment under an extremely compressed programme, within a live, listed heritage building, and to a standard that allowed immediate opening with no snagging period.

Complexitities

·Listed Building Constraints – Dublin Castle is a protected, listed historic structure, imposing strict limitations on construction methods.  No fixings permitted to walls, floors or ceilings.  All exhibition elements had to be fully self‑supporting, structurally sound and visually discreet. Weight, stability and load distribution were critical design considerations. This required careful engineering of bespoke freestanding systems that respected the historic fabric while delivering modern exhibition functionality.

·Live Public Environment – Throughout the works Dublin Castle remained open to the public. Health and safety planning was a core project driver.  Our key measures included Controlled working zones; Careful sequencing of deliveries and installations; Daily coordination with site management and security

·Noise, access and visibility restrictions – The project had to be delivered without impacting the visitor experience or compromising public safety.

·Zero‑Float Fast‑Track Programme – The exhibition opening was fixed to coincide with the official midnight release of the 1926 Census records, making the programme immovable. Challenges included: No contingency days; Parallel coordination of multiple trades and suppliers; Off‑site fabrication running concurrently with strip‑out works; Precise just‑in‑time delivery to site

·Integration of Multiple Stakeholder Packages – We worked closely with: National Archives project team and curators, Client‑appointed AV contractors, Conservation specialists, Dublin Castle site management

·Museum‑Grade Finish with No Snag Period – Because the exhibition opened immediately after handover, the works had to meet the highest exhibition and conservation standards from the outset: Precision fabrication; Clean detailing and flawless finishes; Accurate alignment of graphics and cases and Robust construction suitable for long‑term public engagement and future touring

The exhibition was delivered on time, on brief, and to the quality required for a State‑level opening.