ROBIN LEE ARCHITECTURE have been appointed by TIPPERARY COUNTY COUNTY to develop the former Rialto cinema building located in the historic and cultural core of Nenagh, County Tipperary.

The RIALTO DIGITAL AND ENTERPRISE HUB will provide circa 1,100m2 of bespoke office, meeting and collaborative working space by means of the restoration and adaptive re-use of the historic Art Deco-era cinema building. The existing building is situated within a town centre site currently occupied by open yard spaces and utilitarian outbuildings. The first stage of the project will be to produce a masterplan for the site to enhance linkages and connectivity within the town centre. Incorporation of a mixture of uses is intended enliven and invigorate the vacant site, with the provision of housing units included to complement the employment use provided within the former cinema building within the overall regeneration objective.

The aim is to develop low-carbon, climate-resilient energy retrofit strategies for the historic building and surrounding site to support an environmentally sustainable economy. 
Tipperary County Council have identified this project as a flagship revitalisation and regeneration project for the region.

This former cinema designed by William (Bill) O'Dwyer is a typical example of mid-twentieth-century architecture in Ireland. Its simple yet decorative style, and elements such as the canopy, curved bay and stepped gable, combine with its corner-sited position on the town square to make it an interesting contribution to the streetscape. It is also a reminder of the importance of cinema to the town and district, from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Reg No. 22305057

Planning approval for the scheme is scheduled for 2023.