Who We Are
About Us
Fortress Planning was formed in 2004 as a sole trader offering architectural and surveying services. It became limited in 2007 and since then it has grown its construction and property services offering.
Fortress Planning was formed in 2004 by Building Surveyor Brigid Browne, MSc, BSc, M.I.E.I and since then it has grown and offers a wide range of services to facilitate a large client base including services such as Planning Consultancy & Design, Disability Access Certificates, Fire Safety Certificate Reports, Project Management, Assigned Designer, Assigned Certifier, Interim Inspections, Area Certification, Building Surveys and Condition Surveys. With over 20 years of experience those at Fortress Planning offer a comprehensive package from concept to completion for all present and future client requirements.
Brigid is a Registered and Chartered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Engineers Ireland. She is the owner and managing director of Fortress Planning.
Mike is Project Supervisor for Design Process and Building and Industrial Services Technician and PSDP. He is Secretary and Director and Financial Control of Fortress Planning.
Specialties with Fortress Planning are as follows:
- Assigned Certifier
- Designer (Design Certifier)
- Building Surveyor
- Conservation Consultant
- Sales and Marketing
Specialties with Fortress Planning are as follows:
- PSDP
- Fire Risk Assessments
- Project & Accounts Manager
- Project Scheduling
- Building Designer
As a building surveyor and pathologist Brigid’s particular
interests lie in how buildings/building materials behave when used by the occupants. This is never more important than when it comes to traditional structures (pre-1919). The challenge with any renovation project is to find that happy balance with how the building fabric behaves and how we can safelty introduce new and modern interventions. Conservation consultation is something Brigid is very passionate about.
Pathology is also at the heart of new construction. Under the BC(A)R2014 regulations Brigid takes the role of Designer (also known as Design Certifier) and Assigned Certifier for new construction projects. More recently she has been involved in multi million euro hospital extension projects in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary.
Large budget jobs are not the only work Brigid is interested in. One-off houses, domestic and commercial renovations
and school extensions are also important projects to Fortress Planning. In other words, small to medium size projects
will be considered.
Mike is also qualified as a Process Draughtsman and spent the early part of his employment with BCD Engineering generating construction drawings for piping installations and skids. Michael was also involved in the development and implementation of the BCD Quality Management System for ISO9001.
Mike left the BCD Engineering Group to join Fortress Planning as Projects Director specifically to expand the company activities into the Project Management sector.
The broad experience he has of managing projects for industries in the Pharmaceutical, Bio-Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Brewery, Food Processing and Dairy sectors is ideally flexible for the conceptual and detailed design, and management of any type of project. Mike has worked on projects for a wide range of well known companies such as Pepsi-Cola, GE Healthcare, Heineken, Allergan Pharmaceuticals and many more.
Mike has also undertook contract work in Afghanistan for mainly the Australian Defence Force through NATO Sponsored Danish Company, Copenhagen Contractors on Multi-National Military Base in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province. The majority of the construction projects managed by Mike in Afghanistan where in Camp Holland and Camp Russell for the Australian Defence Force including the Chalet ‘H’ Development Project, MTF (Mentoring Task Force) Relocation Project, ISA EOD Compound Upgrades and Camp Russell Well Head Project. Mike also project managed works for the US Military through the ADF such as the Relocation of the US Federal Post Office in Camp Holland and also the Upgrade of the US Military 1-14 compound. For his work in Afghanistan, Mike received two Certificates of Appreciation for Copenhagen Contractors for Chalet ‘H’ and MTF Relocation Projects and a Letter of Recommendation from Major Reynolds, Senior Project Engineer with The Australian Defence Force Project Management Team (ADF-PMT).
Mike brings to the team a high level of accuracy and attention to detail with full understanding of the benefits of good budget control and quality of service. He also has vast experience at resolving project conflicts including contract scope of works and scheduling issues. Mike also achieved IOSH Accreditation as PSDP (Project Supervisor Design Process).
BRIGID BROWNE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Brigid is qualified with an honours Bachelor of Science in Building Surveying from Dundalk Institute of Technology. On graduating from Dundalk she was employed by Muskry Construction, Cahir as a building surveyor and quality controller on construction sites in the Cahir and Clonmel areas.
Duties with Fortress Planning are as follows:
- Planning and Appeals Consultant
- Building Engineering
- Certificates of Compliance for Building Regulations and Planning Permission
- Building Surveying
- Site & Area Certification
- Project Management
- Assinged Designer
- Assigned Certifier
- Interim Inspections for builds
- Sales and Marketing
Brigid moved to Hayes Higgins Partnership and rose to the position of Senior Building Surveyor in the Tipperary Office. She then set up in private practice as a building surveyor and planning consultant and later changed from a Sole Trader to a Limited Company. She went on to obtain an honours Masters of Science in Planning and Development from DIT Bolton Street. Brigid then became a Chartered Building Surveyor registered with the SCSI and the RICS.
Brigid brings a high level of energy to her role as Managing Director with Fortress Planning. When involved in building design she deals directly with all clients to ensure that the design brief is understood and all client needs are incorporated into the design. Brigid maintains a working presence on all jobs from initial conception to final completion.
She has vast experience at resolving planning conflicts including handling Further Information requests from Planning Authorities and making Appeal submissions to An Bord Pleanala.
Brigid is also Fortress Planning’s on-site engineer carrying out Interim Inspections on all builds and issuing Certificates of Compliance on Completion and Opinions of Compliance with Planning Permission.
Mike Ryan
Projects Director
Mike qualified as a Building and Industrial Services Technician and joined the BCD Engineering Group straight from college. Michael was involved with every aspect and division of the BCD Engineering Group but his experience was concentrated on project management of pipework installation projects mostly on site.
Duties with Fortress Planning are as follows:
- Project Accounts and Budgetary Management
- Project Co-Ordination/Management
- IQ/OQ Documentation
- Quality Management
- Project Scheduling
- Health & Safety Risk Assessments
- Building Design, Planning and Construction Drawings
- PSDP – Project Supervisor Design Process
Mike is also qualified as a Process Draughtsman and spent the early part of his employment with BCD Engineering generating construction drawings for piping installations and skids. Michael was also involved in the development and implementation of the BCD Quality Management System for ISO9001.
Mike left the BCD Engineering Group to join Fortress Planning as Projects Director specifically to expand the company activities into the Project Management sector.
The broad experience he has of managing projects for industries in the Pharmaceutical, Bio-Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Brewery, Food Processing and Dairy sectors is ideally flexible for the conceptual and detailed design, and management of any type of project. Mike has worked on projects for a wide range of well known companies such as Pepsi-Cola, GE Healthcare, Heineken, Allergan Pharmaceuticals and many more.
Mike has also undertook contract work in Afghanistan for mainly the Australian Defence Force through NATO Sponsored Danish Company, Copenhagen Contractors on Multi-National Military Base in Tarin Kowt, Uruzgan Province. The majority of the construction projects managed by Mike in Afghanistan where in Camp Holland and Camp Russell for the Australian Defence Force including the Chalet ‘H’ Development Project, MTF (Mentoring Task Force) Relocation Project, ISA EOD Compound Upgrades and Camp Russell Well Head Project. Mike also project managed works for the US Military through the ADF such as the Relocation of the US Federal Post Office in Camp Holland and also the Upgrade of the US Military 1-14 compound. For his work in Afghanistan, Mike received two Certificates of Appreciation for Copenhagen Contractors for Chalet ‘H’ and MTF Relocation Projects and a Letter of Recommendation from Major Reynolds, Senior Project Engineer with The Australian Defence Force Project Management Team (ADF-PMT).
Mike brings to the team a high level of accuracy and attention to detail with full understanding of the benefits of good budget control and quality of service. He also has vast experience at resolving project conflicts including contract scope of works and scheduling issues. Mike also achieved IOSH Accreditation as PSDP (Project Supervisor Design Process).
