Completed in 2010, the Engineering Building at NUIG integrates all engineering activities on campus into an exclusive, state-of-the-art learning facility.
The new development houses undergraduate and postgraduate facilities for over 1,100 students and includes state-of-the-art engineering laboratories, research facilities, workshops, computer suites, lecture rooms & teaching tools.
Incorporating 40% Ecocem GGBS into its construction not only provided an attractive finish but also demonstrates the importance of embodied energy to the students.
The design consists of one building, four stories high, with a floor area of circa 14,190m2 with a single-storey Energy Centre, circa 450m2. The project was completed in 2010 costing €27 million.
The construction of this building included low embodied energy material including a zinc exterior face. A novel voided slab system was also employed which involved bulking out the concrete with a plastic bubble filled with air. This meant that less concrete was needed.
A prominent feature throughout this building is the exposed structures that are traditionally covered up during construction. This not only acts as a unique and unusual design concept but also acts as a learning tool for engineering students.
Alongside sustainable construction methods used in this project, are sustainable systems that make this building a great example of sustainable design. In order to minimize the building’s carbon footprint, sustainable systems became a key feature. They included natural ventilation, a biodiverse green roof over the central courtyard, rainwater harvesting, and a biomass boiler for energy generation.
This project was awarded the RIAI ‘Most Environmentally Sustainable Building Award’ in 2012.
