It has been a very successful first 10 years in business for Cork-based MAC Construction Consultants Ltd which provides an exceptional construction cost management and consultancy service to a wide range of clients.
To date, the practice – which was founded in June 2010 by Glenn McCarthy – has provided consultancy services to over €180 million worth of projects, and in the past year alone has managed the delivery of over €32 million worth of projects in the Cork region.
“The last 10 years have flown by,” remarks Glenn, whose offices are located in the heart of Cork city.
“I received a good schooling with PKS in Dublin and Nolan Ryan Tweeds here in Cork before going out on my own. I now have three other experienced quantity surveyors working alongside me and we’re going from strength to strength. It’s a real team effort.”
The practice provides the full suite of quantity surveying services, working on projects ranging from hotel, restaurant and nursing home renovations / extensions to residential developments, apartment schemes and corporate office fitouts. It continues to grow its involvement in the residential ‘one-off’ market, providing services to in excess of 35 bespoke dwellings last year alone.
“One-off house projects now account for 30 – 40% of our overall business. Housing schemes, both private and social, account for another 30%. Bespoke residential housing has become a large aspect of the business. We provide quantity surveying services to a range of clients from Cluid Housing Association, Denis O’Brien Developments, Hallmark Developments, Rockforest Homes, Calder Initiatives, Red Barn Construction, all who are all well-known construction, development and property development companies in Cork.”
MAC Construction Consultants has been involved in a number of prestigious projects recently, including the full refurbishment of the Montenotte Hotel in Cork, consisting of 120 bedrooms, new entrance, restaurant, main bar and panorama bar along with cameo cinema at the Montenotte Hotel in Cork. They also undertook the refurbishment of the Carrigaline Court Hotel, consisting of 110 bedrooms, reception and new entrance foyer. Glenn and his team collaborated with Meitheal Architects and Kieran J Barry & Associates on these projects.
“We’ve just completed the QS work on a large extension to the Haven Bay Care Centre in Kinsale where we linked up with Donal F O’Donovan Consultants,” the affable quantity surveyor explains.
“We’ve also completed works to the historic Lotamore House on Lower Glanmire Road and are about the go on site at the Convent of Mercy in Bantry where renovation works are taking place and Jack Coughlan & Associates are the architects.”
In addition, the practice has been involved in office fitout projects for KPMG, Ernst & Young, McKesson, ALS, Phelan’s Pharmacies, Musgrave Group and Doyle Shipping Group.
Asked why so many new and existing clients choose MAC Construction Consultants, Glenn replies: “We offer a hands-on quantity surveying service that is second to none. We’re proactive and upfront about everything we do. If there is a difficulty or cost issue on a project, we ensure it is clearly explained to the client and a cost-effective solution found. It is always better to deal with any issues and manage them before they become a problem, just ignoring issues is not an option, and you must keep your clients informed at all times.”
After graduating from the University of West of England in Bristol with a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying, Glenn returned home to Ireland to take up a senior quantity surveyor’s role with PKS in 1999. During his three years with the Dublin practice, he oversaw the delivery of a varied selection of projects ranging from James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Punchestown Racecourse, Dublin Quayside upgrade works and Galway University Hospital.
He then spent eight years as regional director at Nolan Ryan Tweeds where he managed the delivery of quantity surveying services to the regional offices in Cork and Limerick. Among the projects he undertook were the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre, Web-Works, Lapps Quay & Georges Quay offices, office renovations / fitouts for Ernst & Young, KPMG and Nathans, Norman Foster Tower scheme for Howard Holdings, West Indian Hotel, London, Watersedge redevelopment in Midleton, Havisham House, Douglas House and Arcadia apartments, Mitchelstown Medical Centre, Mercy Nurse Education Centre, various HSE projects, including pet scanner, radiology, oncology and endoscopy extension to St Raphael’s.
Glenn hasn’t looked back since starting his own business a decade ago and would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and the architects / consultants he has teamed up with for their continued support and cooperation.
Here’s to the next 10 years of this ever-expanding consultancy practice!
MAC Construction Consultants Ltd
15 South Mall,
Cork.
Telephone: 021 4278908 / 086 8323579
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, November 2020, Vol 6 No 6
