The main structural core of the 25-storey Railyard Apartments development in Cork city centre has reached full height at over 85.5m, positioning it to become Ireland's tallest residential building when completed.

Business Plus reported that specialist contractor Slipform UK commenced the continuous concrete pour on 18 March, with a crew of 30 workers operating on 12-hour shifts around the clock for 10 days to reach full height.

Over 1,700 cubic metres of concrete were poured continuously, with 225 tonnes of reinforcing steel tied throughout the process, with the contractor averaging two and a half floors per day.

Dan Sheehan, contracts manager with main contractor PJ Hegarty, said the team was very pleased to have completed the phase safely and on schedule, describing it as the result of months of planning and collaboration across the project team. He added that Cores 2 and 3, which use a more traditional precast concrete design, are expected to be completed by the end of April.

The Railyard Apartment Scheme is a collaborative partnership between Cork City Council, Clúid, and JCD Group, delivering 217 affordable homes comprising 118 cost rental units, 77 social homes, and 22 age-friendly social homes on the former Sextant pub site at Albert Quay in Cork's Docklands.

The development was designed by Henry J Lyons Architects, with input from specialist tall building architect Richard Coleman of London-based City Designer. Alongside the 25-storey tower, the scheme steps down to 13-storey and then 9-storey blocks, and also incorporates the renovation of two protected structures on the site, Carey House and the former railway terminus building.

See the full details on the Railyard development's construction milestone.