Celebrating 10 years in business, Murcom has earned an excellent reputation off the back of projects it has completed in both public and private sectors. Building Ireland learned all about the thriving Co Meath business from its Managing Director, Michael Murray recently.
Rewind back a decade ago and things weren’t as smooth for Michael Murray and his new general contracting business venture. In fact, Murcom’s inception in 2009 came at a time when the Irish construction industry was, for want of a better word, plummeting, with long-established building companies closing down all over the country.
To say it was a risky time to set-up shop would be a vast understatement but, the way Michael looked at it, the only was up and he does admit that they were fortunate with some of the initial work they landed to help them get off the ground.
“It was challenging for everyone and we were quite lucky that we got in doing a lot of work in schools and colleges,” he recalled.
Nowadays, Murcom works alongside the country’s leading project managers, architects, engineering and quantity surveying practices. Based in Dunboyne, Co Meath, the business employs 15 direct staff with Michael and Miriam Murray its principal directors.
The company’s personnel have more than 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and, with those of experience in the construction industry; they have the necessary knowledge and resources to be able to undertake projects of all complexities.
Murcom’s personnel have a long history in medical, educational and commercial development and have been involved in numerous projects throughout Dublin, Leinster and across Ireland.
They go above and beyond to ensure that the company’s projects are delivered to the highest possible standards – an approach which has enabled Murcom to maintain strong relationships with numerous clients over the years.
Similarly, the high standards set by Murcom and its professional management of projects is reflected in the high number of repeat business that they acquire from satisfied clientele.
“Our primary work for clients would generally be fit-out projects,” Michael outlined. “We’re currently on an internal fitout project in Fairyhouse Racecourse, we’ve just completed an internal refurbishment for the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland on St. Stephen’s Green and then we have a frame work contract at Trinity College the whole year round.
“On the other side, we are also concentrating on the residential market with one-off housing projects all throughout the Leinster region. And we also have a housing scheme with 20 units underway in Co. Meath.”
Michael originally grew his construction roots in the residential market before setting up Murcom in ‘09. He himself explained that it’s the sector in which his present company was born out of.
“I’d have primarily been in the residential market during the mid-2000s and I suppose you could say Murcom grew out of that,” said the Managing Director. “We have two streams to the business the residential contracting and main contracting”.
In the educational sector, Murcom has thrived having worked within some of the leading educational institutes such as Trinity College Dublin, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board, City of Dublin Education & Training board and many primary and second level schools across the greater Dublin area.
The company has carried out a range of works from classroom/lecture theatre upgrades, to roof repairs and replacements and general alterations and upgrade works. It’s work which has been earned off the back of excellence on previous projects which, in turn, has trust developed with some of the biggest construction companies in the country.
“You could say that 2018-2019 has been very busy for us here,” Michael enthused. “This year we’ve been working on an extensive refurbishment project for the RCSI on York Street and also undertaking a four-floor refurbishment job for TCD. We are also shortly commencing a laboratory fitout for TCD in the coming weeks which we have won on the back of excellence on previous laboratory fitouts.
“We’ve been working with Trinity for six or seven years now and they’ve always been good to work with I have to say.”
It has been a quick rise in the space of decade for Murcom, especially when considering the state of the construction industry when they first got up and running. So what has been the secret to success?
According to Michael, it comes down to a handful of different qualities which they possess and practice out in Dunboyne Business Park.
“I think we have a hands-on approach and our directly employed team have a lot of experience,” he stated. “A lot of the work we do is carried out in-house and we’ve the resources inside to carry out a job in a top class manner.
“Attention to detail and finishing, that’s always been our strong point here.”
Much of the success and expansion at Murcom over the last number of years is also down to committed and highly qualified management and technical staff, who ensure delivery of projects to the highest standards on time and within budget. Couple this with the fact that they are members of the following – C.I.R.I (Construction Industry Register Ireland), C.I.F. (Construction Industry Federation), Homebond, A.S.F.P. (Association for Specialist Fire Protection), M.B.C.A. (Master Builders and Contractors Association) and C.W.P.S. (Construction Workers Pension Scheme) – and you start to understand the rapid rise the company has had.
In June, the company saw one of its projects winning at the annual Royal Institute of Architects Ireland (RIAI) Awards. TAKA Architects were the architects on the project for Belvedere College S.J. and picked up the ‘The Small Works’ category award on the night.
“We are delighted for Taka Architects on the success,” said Michael. “We had maybe twelve weeks on that project and it’s always nice being part of a project which has won an award like that.
“Again this project was a large internal fitout, with detailed bespoke design and had a very quick turn around but we were delighted to hand the building back to the clients on time and completed to everyone’s satisfaction.”
Murcom were employed as the main contractor, M+E co-ordinator and PSCS on this contract and working with Taka Architects, Metec consulting engineers and Austin Reddy & Co. achieved a successful project.
The works were carried out in an existing building and consisted of; a Internal Fitout to 3 major rooms of the Existing Building, New vaulted ceilings with access panels, Bespoke fitted joinery furniture, Sound proof music room, Commercial kitchen installation, State of the Art IT room fitout, and M+E Refurbishment Works consisting of a full commercial kitchen & canteen install, new ventilation to toilets, access control doors, IT room fitout and fibre optic cabling.
Looking ahead to 2020, Murcom’s MD is hoping for more of the same with one eye on further expansion for the business down the line.
“We’re just hoping to continue the work we have with our clients and hopefully broaden our base as well. We’d like to continue to expand the company a bit more because, like everyone else out there, we want to grow,” he concluded.
Murcom
Unit 12,
Dunboyne Business Park,
Dunboyne,
Co Meath
A86 RY95
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +353 1 505 4999
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, October, Vol 5 No 10
