International Rugby Experience - Detail
April 2025
Níall McLaughlin Architects used roughly half a million bricks to construct the exhibition building in the centre of Limerick. Laying clinker brick is one of the longstanding traditions of the city by the Shannon river, just as playing rugby. JP McManus, born in the city, provided the 30 million euros of financing for the rugby exhibition and event centre completely on his own and intended to gift it to his hometown. Prominently situated on the main shopping avenue, the International Rugby Experience was supposed to become a tourist magnet, revive the inner city, and generate income for the city coffers. The building is located in a row of four-storey townhouses.
Its brick facade and typical design elements recall the Georgian architecture of the district. It is reminiscent of a modern cathedral and a public building at the same time and could be a city hall or a library. The least tall facade elements line up with the eaves of the neighbouring buildings. The tower, 32 metres in height, rises above the historic edifices. In front of the tower, the entrance area features a large balcony above a modern portico. Deep pillars structure the facade vertically. Between them, the closed brick surfaces alternate with ceiling-height glazing. Originally the architects had planned to erect the building completely with traditional, hand laid masonry brick. The required precision, a tight schedule, and costs led to choosing a facade mostly comprised of brick slip clad precast concrete elements. Hand-made brick found use with an indenture in the middle, the so-called frog, which was split lon- gitudinally. Along the break, the brick halves display a rough edge that anchors them within the precast concrete element. A mix of three clay tile variants in different red hues harmo- nises with the historic masonry walls and provides the facade surfaces with an impression of depth. Lintels and window sills of corresponding colours enhance the monolithic effect, which is continued into the interior where walls, ceilings, and floors also display brick surfaces. The two-storey foyer draws visitors into the volume. The exhibition areas are located on the upper floors. On the third and fourth floor, they were designed as black boxes. A eureka moment occurs when visitors leave the dark spaces and enter the two-storey hall beneath the roof, illuminated by the sun. Full-height windows offer fantastic views of the surrounding city. Here as in the entire building, brick and vaulted ceiling details visualise the structural forces. This recalls the scrum of rugby players: The bricks of the vaulted ceilings support each other, similarly to players in a scrum, who distribute loads evenly and afford each other stability based on the players working together.
Economically, the Rugby Experience demonstrated less stability. After months of arranging the handover, the city coun- cil declined to accept the gift. Due to receiving less visitors than expected, the not-for-profit enterprise became unsustainable. Late last year, only 18 months after its opening, the Rugby Experience closed its doors. Nevertheless, the striking building continues to define the inner city. How it will be used in the future remains to be seen.