Denis Byrne Architects have won the ‘Best Sustainable Building’ and ‘Best Commercial Building’ categories for the Bord Gais Networks Services Centre. The new centre will focus the Dublin operations of Bord Gáis Networks in one single location on a 5 acre site at St. Margaret’s Road, Finglas. The design of the new building reflects Bord Gáis Networks’ commitment to environmental protection, energy conservation and sustainable development. The building design promotes an integrated sustainable design approach that combines Microclimate, Biodiversity and Landscape, Water Management, use of Renewable Energy Technologies with a compact building featuring a low energy design concept, to establish a service facility with a high quality and permeable work environment. Following a two stage international architectural competition, construction commenced in June 2010.
As winner of the RIAI Sustainability awards the assessors commented: “The winning scheme offered an innovative and achievable work of modern architecture. The entry scored very high from a sustainability point of view. The project utilised the site well, making the building at the Southern end and locating the parking behind it. The amorphous external form with projecting tower (which would be visible across the M50) was innovative; the internal layout studded with natural ventilation courtyards was flexible and interesting, offering cross views to landscape. The relationship between the different working areas was appropriate with the sense of a common working environment.”
Denis Byrne Architects is a Dublin-based design practice producing contemporary architectural works of quality. We were founded by Denis Byrne in 1998 and since that time have grown steadily as talented and motivated young professionals have joined Denis in the development of the practice. Our work may be seen throughout Ireland on both urban and rural award-winning construction projects, from the ‘House in the Field’ in Co Westmeath to the ‘Cigar Box’ apartments and offices, in Dublin city centre. The scope of projects has broadened considerably to include master planning, landscape design, urban design, furniture and interior design, all pursued within the parameters of our larger environmental and social concerns.
Edith Blennerhassett is a civil engineer who previously worked at Max Fordham where she developed a strong interest in sustainable and low energy design and was project engineer for one of the UK’s early green buildings – The De Montfort University Queen’s Building. In 2010 Edith set up Engineering Environments, which is an engineering consultancy specialising in sustainable engineering, design and building services. Edith has worked on the design of two BREEAM Excellent buildings and delivered a number of projects incorporating efficient and renewable technologies including PV panels, solar thermal panels, biomass boilers, wind turbines, CHP plant and heat pumps.
