The construction of the building on South William Street, Dublin was driven by two of the most prominent members of the Society of Artists in Ireland, the sculptor Simon Vierpyl and woodcarver and gilder Richard Cranfield.

[5][6] Following the success of a show in 1765 at Charles Napper's Great Room on George's Lane, the Society of Artists decided to construct their own dedicated art academy and exhibition space on a site leased from Maurice Coppinger.

[7] The funds were raised for its construction by the issue of lifetime tickets to exhibitions held at the venue by subscribers of three guineas.

In 1791, the City Assembly, the governing body of Dublin Corporation, began to hold its meetings at the property as The Tholsel on Skinners Row, where it had previously convened, had become dilapidated and structurally unsound.

[9] In 1809, the corporation took the building on a 100-year lease with extensive refurbishment works taking place in 1810. Notable craftspeople involved included the carpenter Benjamin Eaton, plasterer Charles Thorp and the stonecutter and architect Frederick Darley.