METRO FREE Friday, October 9, 2009 LANDING IN CINEMAS TODAY The makers of and present a comedy with plenty of altitude SEE PAGE 16 FOR MOVIE REVIEW www.upthemovie.ie HELP METRO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER TODAY INSIDE TODAY Interview: Page 18 Rocker Ozzy tells us why he wont do more telly Competition: Page 4 Win tickets to the movies at Dundrum PLUS Win Top Gear Live tickets See Page 16 Shining light: Liberty Hall, right, will look vastly different if plans to demolish it and make it 50 per cent taller get the go-ahead Pictures: Siptu/Collins BY ROSS McDONAGH Landmark eyesore ready for makeoverDUBLINS skyline looks set to get a significant facelift with plans for one of its tallest build- ings to be demolished and re- placed by one almost 50 per cent taller. Siptu has unveiled plans for a rede- sign of its iconic headquarters, Liberty Hall on Eden Quay. Under the plan, the existing 17-storey, 60m-tall building, built in 1965 and criticised by some as an eyesore, will be replaced by one 20 storeys and 84m high. The new plans feature a 300-seat the- atre, a heritage centre focusing on the countrys labour movement, and a glass sky-lift to take visitors to an enclosed sky deck at the top with panoramic views of Dublin. The proposed structure has been de- signed to include energy-efficient solar panels and rainwater harvesting. Union bosses said the landmark build- ing had become cramped and needed a more eco-friendly replacement. Siptu general secretary Joe OFlynn said the union had an unbreakable bond with the location, having occupied it for almost 100 years. Were confident that if our planning application is approved, the new Liber- ty Hall will strengthen the landmark status of this site through a building of high architectural quality, he added. Its architect, Des McMahon, said: The Eiffel Tower is as valuable today as was 100 years ago, but Liberty Hall is not. It was a building of its day not unique, except for its location and tim- ing and a carbon disaster in terms of its use of energy. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html