From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

The Helix, Dublin

Field	Value
name	The Helix
fullname	The Helix Centre for the Performing Arts
former_names	North Dublin Arts Centre
image	The_Helix_,_Dublin_City_University_-_geograph.org.uk_-_517797.jpg
image_size	250px
caption	The Helix in August 2007
address	DCU Main Campus, Collins Avenue Extension
Dublin D9
D09 FW22
Ireland
location	Glasnevin
coordinates
broke_ground
opened
owner	Dublin City University
operator	UAC Management DAC, a DCU subsidiary company
cost	€36.5 million
architect	Wejchert Architects
project_manager	Healy Kelly & Partners
general_contractor	Bennett Construction
capacity
website

Dublin D9 D09 FW22 Ireland

The Helix, formally The Helix Centre for the Performing Arts, is a multi-purpose venue located on the Dublin City University main campus in Glasnevin, Dublin. Officially opened by then President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, on 5 March 1996, the Helix contains a concert hall, theatre, studio theatre, exhibition space, artists-in-residence studios, and a green room and other support spaces, along with an in-site café.

History

Originally conceived as an aula maxima for the university, and also as the "North Dublin (Performing) Arts Centre," the Helix was built at a cost of €56.5 million between 1996 and mid-1998.

Design and features

The Helix was designed by the late Polish-born Dublin-based architect Andrzej Wejchert of A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects. It is a three-level building with elevations of contrasting glass and granite, and with an open void through which light spills from the roof. The 11,650 square metres of the building are built around a wide foyer with inclined columns and a helix-shaped stairway - the building was named for the helical structure that dominates the entrance.

The performance spaces include the main concert hall, "The O'Mahony Hall," main Helix theatre, "The Space" - a studio theatre, exhibition space, artists-in-residence studios, and a green room, while ancillary spaces include a café, box office, small shop, toilets and other amenities.

Performances and events

The Helix has been host to world-class performances ranging from Zach Bryan, the Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra, The St Petersburg Ballet, international theatre and world singers through to popular West End shows. Opera singers performing have included Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett and Bryn Terfel. Rock musicians Van Morrison and Lou Reed have also played at the venue. Irish groups such as Celtic Thunder have also performed there.

Non-Entertainment Uses

During the COVID-19 pandemic the space was used as a vaccination centre beginning in February 2021. The capacity of the car park was a factor in choosing the building. The vaccination centre was the work of collaboration between general practitioners, practice nurses, medical students, Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Department of Health, Dublin City University and Dublin Airport.

The university routinely uses Mahony Hall as a graduation ceremony venue.

TV programmes

Many TV programmes have been broadcast from or recorded in The Helix.

Programme	Channel	Years
You're a Star	RTÉ One	2002–2008
The Dunphy Show	TV3	2003
The Panel	Network 2	2003
Rip-Off Republic	RTÉ One	2005
Fame: The Musical	RTÉ One	2010
Take Me Out	TV3	2010–2013
Family Fortunes	TV3	2012–2014
The Voice of Ireland	RTÉ One	2012–2016
Ireland's Got Talent	Virgin Media One	2018–2019

Awards

Irish Concrete Society Award – Building Category
Irish Joinery Award – Joinery of the Mahony Hall – 1st Prize
Plan Opus Building Awards Winner (2003)
Shortlisted for the Best Purpose-built Venue (2014)

References

"The Helix Performing Arts Centre DCU".
Power, Jack. (11 February 2021). "The Dublin theatre-turned-vaccination centre: 'We're planning for 5,000 people a day'". [[The Irish Times]].
Hogan, Laura. (20 February 2021). "Hundreds of over-85s vaccinated at DCU centre today". [[RTÉ News]].
Foley, Alan. (2024-10-25). "Sophie Wallace from Raphoe among the DCU graduates at October Ceremony".

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

buildings-and-structures-completed-in-2002 dublin-city-university glasnevin concert-halls-in-the-republic-of-ireland theatres-in-dublin-(city) 2002-establishments-in-ireland music-venues-in-dublin-(city) 21st-century-architecture-in-the-republic-of-ireland

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about The Helix, Dublin — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report