Such is the paucity of working space for Dublin startups that a new facility launch risks being crushed by the weight of occasion. Luckily, there were no complications for Dogpatch Labs, which opened 8,000 sq. ft. of sturdy new event and startup space in the bowels of the IFSC’s CHQ building.
Formerly used as vaults for storing whiskey casks, the subterranean space has been vacant for decades and was built some 200 years ago. The vault has now been redeveloped into a collection of glass-fronted, cell-like working spaces, encased in the building’s original stone walls and finished with a muted, minimalist design.
The vault also houses an event space capable of accommodating 100 people, as well as a bar and hot-desking area. The vault spaces have no natural light, which may dampen the facility's appeal for some enterprises.
Among those gathered for the opening were junior minister Simon Harris, Dogpatch Labs MD Patrick Walsh, Ulster Bank’s Maeve McMahon and Neville Isdell, the former Coca-Cola CEO who bought the CHQ building for €10m in 2013.
Ulster Bank worked with Dogpatch Labs to reimagine the site, in a project that commenced 12 weeks ago. The bank also plans to set up an innovation team to work alongside Dogpatch Labs with the various startups and other ventures using the co-working space.
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Speaking at the opening, minister Harris said that the CHQ vault redevelopment involved taking the historic and putting it back into use for the modern and innovative.
He added: “One of the messages I hear loud and clear from our startup community is that we need more space. I think we have here in Dogpatch a space that can match and even exceed many of the startup spaces all around the world.”
Harris also took the opportunity to announce that Dublin Castle would host the European Financial Forum on January 27 2016, an inaugural financial services event aiming to bring global investors from around the world to Dublin.
Neville Isdell also addressed the vault gathering, explaining how he saw the CHQ building as multi-faceted, with various parts of it being activated at different times of the day.
He added: “We’re building intellectual capital for the future in this unique space. That’s going to be fundamental in terms of being able to compete in the world of tomorrow.”
Maeve McMahon, director of customer experience and products with Ulster Bank, said that the bank could learn through Dogpatch how to stay relevant in the future.
“We can sit beside and learn from those who are fintech innovators in companies looking to disrupt what we do every day in banking and financial services.”
Patrick Walsh explained how Dogpatch’s initial plan was to create world-class office space for starters upstairs in CHQ, while downstairs would be developed as an even, workshop and collaboration space for Dublin startups.
He added: There’ll be a lot of community events held here, including Coder Dojo-type events, initiatives for fintech, women entrepreneurs, etc, many of them for free.
“That’s a vital piece of infrastructure because we’re continuing to see organic growth in the Dublin startup scene.”
(from left) Patrick Walsh, MD, Dogpatch Labs, Maeve McMahon, Ulster Bank, and CHQ building owner, Neville Isdell
