Gilroy McMahon

Heads of Local Goverments, Dublin

This mixed use scheme, a competition winner, is developed around a series of  landscaped courtyards between Ushers Street and Ushers Quay on the Liffey. The five storey office accomodates the new Headquarters and fronts onto the river. Environmental management is of the essence and includes; natural ventilation of office areas, exposed concrete soffittes to floor plates acting as ‘heat sinks’ and night cooling through automatic vent systems. Double wall glazing system to south façade act as a climate ‘buffer’. In winter trapped heat is recycled through the building. In summer excess heat is vented back to the exterior and is prevented from entering the building. Ground heat source is used to heat atrium floor slab and reception area.