Engineering the Edge: How Graepels City Flooring Helped Shape Dublin’s City Quay
City Quay Aluminium Flooring; What does it take to build a public boardwalk over the River Liffey that’s as safe, as it is stunning? A lot more than meets the eye.
This Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of our most technically challenging and rewarding projects—the City Quay boardwalk, commissioned by Dublin City Council.
Designed by Urban Agency and built by Purcell Construction, the boardwalk demanded not only high-performance flooring, durable and long lasting but also visual precision, complex geometry, and seamless execution. Enter Graepel City—our anti-slip aluminium planking system, now anodised in two colours and expertly engineered to meet the moment.
Anti Slip Aluminium Planking
Graepels’ anti-slip flooring planks are designed for performance, safety, and style—across public, industrial, and commercial spaces. The City Quay boardwalk on the River Liffey is just one example of how our Graepel City pattern can transform a space. Explore the full range of profiles and finishes by clicking the button below.
Why Graepel City Was the Right Fit?
Custom Cuts & Clever Coordination
The choice of Graepel City wasn’t just about safety—it was about flexibility in design.
Graepel City, made from EN AW-5754 aluminium, delivered just that. Its 8 mm perforated pattern enhances water drainage and grip, while its clean linear profile complements the boardwalk’s modern architectural context. With over 705 square metres of planking, Each panel was precision-engineered to meet the boardwalk’s complex layout. With over 384 mitred cuts, 10 custom lamp post cut-outs, and 350+ unique panel drawings, this wasn’t a standard install. It was a tailored flooring solution.
Panels were packed, labelled, and anodised in strict sequence to streamline on-site installation. Dual-tone anodising in RAL 9011 (Graphite Black) and RAL 9023 (Pearl Dark Grey) added a dynamic visual contrast that follows the changing levels and transitions across the site.
Finishing at Scale: The Anodising Challenge
Long aluminium panels often present a challenge when it comes to consistent surface finishing. For this project, AMS, large-format anodising baths and careful batch handling ensured flawless surface treatment.
Maintaining sequence during the anodising process was critical—each panel needed to be installed in the exact order to match the architectural intent. AMS worked closely with the project to preserve this integrity throughout the finishing phase.
From Factory Floor to River’s Edge
The collaborative effort between Graepels, Purcell Construction, Urban Agency, AMS, and installers Procraft ensured the project was delivered with precision and efficiency. Over 160 hours of engineering and pre-production planning enabled the team to move from drawings to installation with minimal on-site adjustments.
Panels were secured using stainless steel bolts and clamps, ensuring a long-lasting, corrosion-resistant finish suited to outdoor, high-footfall environments.
Results that Speak for Themselves
The finished boardwalk met and exceeded expectations from all involved. Stakeholders praised both the aesthetic finish and the practicality of the solution. Thanks to clear identification, efficient packaging, and accurate fabrication, the installation process was smooth and error-free.
Graepels is proud to have contributed to a project that blends form and function, offering a robust flooring solution that elevates public infrastructure. City Quay now stands as a testament to collaboration, custom engineering, and the power of precision metalwork in urban design.
Perforation starts with a conversation. Let's begin.
Whether you’re working on a bold architectural statement or a straightforward, functional build—Graepels is here to help. From bespoke engineering challenges to standard safety flooring, we bring the same level of precision and care to every project. Let’s start the conversation.