TWO of Ireland’s leading conservation consultancy firms, TKB & Associates together with Chris Southgate & Associates have merged into a new consultancy, TKB Southgate Associates. The firm’[s headquarters is in Gallagh, Clontibret and the firm has offices in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.

The merger allows TKB Southgate Associates to consult with clients on a full range of disciplines including conservation engineering, sustainable development, building archaeology and project management. TKB Southgate Associates specialises in non-destructive investigation techniques utilising cutting-edge methods adopted in the interest of preserving the historic material of building stock.

The two principals behind the merger are Monaghan businessman Dr. Thomas Brennan and Chris Southgate, two of the most respected building conservationists working in Ireland today. They both have dedicated their professional lives to developing and implementing methods of non-destructive treatment and protection of historic homes and heritage sites. They have consulted on many well-known projects ranging from individual private houses to some of the largest projects in Ireland including Farmleigh House, Dublin. Other well known projects include Castle Leslie, Monaghan, the Medieval Walls and Towers of Waterford City and Michael Flatley’s Castle Hyde home.

Speaking about the announcement, Thomas Brennan said, “Chris and I have known each other professionally for 20 years. Collectively we have a vast experience of working with historic buildings. We felt both of our firms had immense synergies and commonalities and we made the decision to unite the talents of our respective firms in order to continue to preserve Ireland’s historical homes and monuments for future generations to enjoy.”

TKB Southgate Associates is also one of the few Irish firms to employ Building Archaeologists, Architectural and Landscape Historians, Building and Chartered Surveyors and Conservation Architects. These highly trained specialists provide a range of services including documentary research, conservation reports, heritage impact statements, character assessments, conservation area appraisals and architectural conservation consultancy.