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Limerick County, Ireland
Bucholz McEvoy Architects
Photography © Michael Moran
An atrium breathes new life into government
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"An
attention to detail emanates from the building...
indigenous materials used in a moving way."
—Frances Huppert,
FAIA
Architect
Bucholz McEvoy Architects www.bmcea.com
Client
Limerick County Council
Key
players
John Sisk and Company (general contractor);
Michael Punch & Partners (structural); Buro
Happold (building services)
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Program:
The local government sought to create a civic building that
would facilitate better service, accountability, transparency,
and easy access to information for the public. The design
team sought to provide comfortable working conditions for
the staff, while reducing energy consumption in the building.
Solution: A
glass and timber atrium, lined with counters where people
can meet with local authorities, provides an accessible and
efficient interface between the public and the government
while also serving as the "ventilation lung" of the building,
bringing fresh air into office spaces. The building uses only
natural energy resources. Without a mechanical plant or air-conditioning
unit installed in the structure, it has lower CO2 emissions.
Special light fittings, designed by the architect with daylight
sensors and dimmable ballasts, allow less artificial light
to be used, and the building's prominent bris-soleil is constructed
of timber from a replenishable source. The staff takes pride
in its innovative home and the new institutional identity
that it projects. The demonstrated success of the contact
it allows between the government and the public is admired
throughout Europe.
For more images please see the November
2004 issue or Architectural Record.
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Record in print, or get Architectural
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