Designed by RKD Architects, Xtratherm's new state-of-the-art 20,000 sq. m production and warehousing facility has opened in Belgium. At an official ceremony in Feluy, Mr. Jean Claude Marcourt, Wallonia Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade, Research and Higher Education officially opened Irish insulation manufacturer Xtratherm's new manufacturing and distribution facility. The new location will be responsible…

RKD Architects is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Davey to the position of Associate. Paul joined RKD in 2011 and is particularly experienced in the design of office commercial, residential and retail buildings as well as the master planning of large-scale projects. Paul has overseen the design of several current major developments including…

This site forms part of the SDZ Block 14 urban quarter and was designed as part of a wider masterplan which also encompassed lands to the north and west. Each of the lands were successfully delivered through the SDZ planning process and have set new standards in terms of commercial and residential design. The building…

This site forms part of the SDZ Block 14 urban quarter and was designed as part of a wider masterplan which also encompassed lands to the north and east. Each of the lands were successfully delivered through the SDZ planning process and have set new standards in terms of commercial and residential design. The building…

This site forms part of the SDZ Block 14 urban quarter and was designed as part of a wider masterplan which also encompassed lands to the south west. Each of the lands was successfully delivered through the SDZ planning process and have set new standards in terms of commercial and residential design. Office Building A…

The full refurbishment and extension of an existing 1970's six-seven storey office building located at the heart of the Grand Canal commercial district. The existing concrete building structure is to be retained and extended with the design proposals working within the constraints of a mass concrete frame. Design modifications enable the connection of the two…

A building which is located in the heart of the Grand Canal Basin 'Hub' and forms part of a thriving office/commercial and residential neighbourhood in close proximity to both Grand Canal Basin and the River Liffey to the north. A modern architectural insertion within the retained and restored warehouse walls offering a clearly legible design…

RKD Architects has worked with an international consortium to deliver a new power plant to Mayo region. The state of the art new 42 MW plant will be powered by a mix of peat, woodchips, and a small amount of coal. Related video: New biomass power station in Mayo to create 350 jobs (rte.ie) Our…

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Energy Assessment Method) is world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, with 250,000 buildings certified BREEAM and over a million registered for assessment since it was first launched in 1990. Registering a project for certification with BREEAM demonstrates an organisation's commitment to measure that project's sustainable value. BREEAM…

Architecture and Engineering (AE) practices more and more reach out to the available projects all over Europe. Main reasons for this are the increased integration of Europe as a continent: better, more affordable and more travel connections are developed. Increased IT cloud services and better broadband connections have significantly improved communication methods such as teleconferencing,…

University of Limerick's 7,500 sq. m Bernal Science Building has been designed as a working prototype in energy efficiency. The Bernal Building features highly serviced science and engineering research laboratories, offices, teaching, seminar rooms, lecture theatre and associated ancillary accommodation including site works. The building includes a 200-seat lecture theatre and link with the adjacent…

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD officially opened Diageo's new €169m state-of-the-art Brewhouse No. 4 during a ceremony conducted at St James Gate, Dublin, on 10 September. Brewhouse No. 4 is so named for being the fourth brewhouse in the 255-year history of St. James Gate, the largest stout brewery in the world. The new Brewhouse,…

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD officially opened Diageo's new €169m state-of-the-art Brewhouse No. 4 during a ceremony conducted at St James Gate, Dublin, on 10 September. Brewhouse No. 4 is so named for being the fourth brewhouse in the 255-year history of St. James Gate, the largest stout brewery in the world. The new Brewhouse,…

The building will provide much needed facilities for collaborative post-graduate research in a variety of areas and will promote synergies between members of all science faculties in DCU. It will also provide custom designed spaces for specialist equipment, much of which is already on campus but is dispersed to unsuitable locations, or in inappropriate environmental…

Datacentres support the information age. Energy efficiency, sustainable design and time-to-market are key objectives. Fully integrated design, innovative and modular solutions are the basis for efficient and cost-effective facilities. The RKD team has delivered some of the most energy efficient datacentres in the world. Based on proven experience designing and constructing over 50,000 sq. m…

RKD has developed a masterplan for a pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in conjunction with a large process engineering organisation and are currently in concept study stage. Construction is to be phased; the final scheme to be completed by 2016 will comprise five separate production facilities of different types, a central warehouse for logistics and necessary support…

One of the most effective ways in which we keep pace with best sustainable design practice is through certification. RKD Associate Sean Hogan is a certified BREEAM Accredited Professional. As BREEAM AP Sean provides the design team with expert advice on built environment sustainability, environmental design and environmental assessment. His expert knowledge facilitates the team's…

RKD has a history of delivering projects using Building Information Modelling (BIM) applications and processes, as a technology oriented design tool. BIM is leveraged at RKD to provide numerous benefits for clients including enhanced coordination, mitigation of on-site errors, and increased cost certainty. However, the RKD approach to BIM features much more than technical improvements…

Cork Institute of Technology's newest educational space, the Architecture Factory, has won the Platinum A' Design Award for Interior Space and Exhibition Design. The A' Design Awards and Competition is an annual scheme that honours exemplary design projects, judged by a panel of industry experts. The Architecture Factory was also recently shortlisted as one of…

The O'Brien Centre for Science at University College Dublin is a €269 million initiative divided into three distinct phases designed by RKD Architects. At 35,000 sq. m and €110 million, phase 2 represents the largest of 3 phases and incorporates Science East and Hub teaching facilities as well as dedicated research facilities for the Complex…

November and December saw the celebration of 100 years of practice by RKD Architects. Our main celebration took place on the evening of the 25th November at the Concert Hall in the Royal Dublin Society and was attended by many of our clients, our company staff, past and present, many members of the families which…

LIT Questum is the latest project at Limerick Institute of Technology to be designed by RKD Architects. Questum is an innovative new €3 million Enterprise, Research and Development Centre being built in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. The multi-purpose centre, being developed by South Tipperary County Council in partnership with Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), will feature…

RKD designed the Centre for Research in Advanced Therapeutic Engineering (CREATE) to realise Cork Institute of Technology's aim of providing therapeutic solutions that meet current and future needs of individuals in close collaboration with regional and national enterprises. The CREATE building provides a state of the art working environment for a multidisciplinary team of scientists,…

BACKGROUND The Building Control Amendment Regulations 2013 are due to come into law from the 1st March 2014. Recent well publicised cases in connection with pyrites and Priory Hall have highlighted the need for significant improvements to the building control regime in Ireland. Current legislation governing building control in Ireland dates back to the Building…

Tasting Rooms @ Guinness Storehouse Have you ever witnessed the 'Universe in a Glass', taken a sip from the 'Fountain of Truth', or wondered what is the correct way to experience the essence of Guinness in the Tasting Room? These are the names given to the series of new sensory spaces comprising the latest visitor…

On Thursday 14th November 2013 the Institute of Designers in Ireland held their annual awards celebrating the best in design on the island of Ireland. The awards cover all design disciplines and the night in Vicar Street Dublin was attended by the who's who of the design world. Cork Institute of Technology's newest educational space,…

A purpose built facility for treating children with congenital heart conditions has opened at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. The Children's Heart Centre, which includes a 25-bed dedicated infant and child cardiac unit as well as support accommodation for families and staff, was built at a cost of €4.5 million by Clancy Construction under…

The RKD 100 celebrations have been featured in the September/October edition of Plan Magazine, the oldest magazine for the architectural community in Ireland. "2013 marks 100 years of practice for RKD Architects. To celebrate this important milestone, the RIAI is hosting an exhibition of RKD's work over the past century. It will take place from…

J. J. 'Johnny' Robinson, one of the founding partners of RKD, was President of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland from 1938 - 1939. In June 1939 he wrote the following article which was published in a special commemorative magazine with the June 21st edition of The Irish Times to celebrate the centenary…

For a number of years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been a topic of conversation between many design and construction professionals in Ireland. Numerous conferences, presentations, water cooler discussions, and social media musings take place across the country, making BIM a well debated topic. At RKD, we have taken the leap from talking the talk…

In 2011 RKD was commissioned by Brussels Beer Capital of the World vzw-asbl-foundation to produce a 'preliminary needs assessment' report intended to spur the development of a beer-related visitor centre in Brussels. The report identified important criteria including site selection, building options and constraints, financial models, operating methodologies and brand awareness. The 'lessons learned' from…

Xtratherm X3 European Production Facility achieves building and environmental permit approval RKD Architects working with Xtratherm and a multi-disciplinary, multinational team have secured building and environmental approval for a new European production and distribution facility for Xtratherm in Feluy in the Walloon region of Belgium to specifically serve their European customers in Belgium, France, Netherlands…

RKD is delighted to be working with Xtratherm to deliver a project that has been very well received in the French-speaking Walloon region of Belgium. Wallonia Foreign Trade and Economics Minister, Jean-Claude Marcourt said, "A new investment in Wallonia is always excellent news. This one in particular will create quality jobs in our Region, and…

The complexity of the AHZ Central Pharmacy consolidation project made it an ideal candidate for development within a Building Information Modelling (BIM) environment. RKD has developed a full BIM Revit model for the project to achieve efficient coordination between the various design and engineering elements. This project is about the construction and refurbishment of a…

The first phase of the Bernal Building will consist of a new four storey structure (plus plant rooms at roof level) with a gross floor area 7,650 sq. m. Accommodation will comprise offices, engineering and scientific research laboratory facilities with associated support spaces, write-up areas, meeting rooms, and a 200-seat conference theatre with associated break…

LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) is an internationally-recognised third-party certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance…

RKD's expansion of AIB Bankcentre HQ has been awarded "Highly Commended" at the annual Opus Plan Expo Awards. The Awards are Ireland's premier showcase of good design and build quality. The Bankcentre expansion achieved the Highly Commended Award in the category of "Projects over €20 Million" because in the view of the judges it provided…

RKD's Quality Management Systems have been independently certified to the ISO9001:2008 standard. We are proud to have achieved certification not only for architectural design services but also for our project management capabilities as well as our supporting administrative and financial functions. Our independent certification was bestowed by Certification Europe. You can find out more information…

The Biosciences Institute at Trinity College Dublin was officially opened by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny on 17th June 2011. RKD Architects designed the 11-storey, 35,000sq.m. facility on Dublin's Pearse Street as part of Trinity College Dublin's "Pearse Corridor Development". "This institute will help sustain Ireland's position as an international leader in biomedical research," Kenny said.…

Current opportunities include: Student Residences, Liverpool - 350 unit development due to commence on site Summer 2012 Hotel, Cambridge - 87 room boutique hotel in the heart of Cambridge with planning being targeted in late 2012. Elderly Care Home, Enfield - 67 room development with an option to form part of a larger 'Care Village'…

RKD was appointed, under Jubail Royal Commission, to design a new university campus as a major component of social infrastructure supporting the development of Jubail Industrial City 2, valued at SAR14 billion over a 22-year development period Working with CCH Architects, RKD's role was that of lead consultant to Kentz-subsidiary RGCK, one of the world's…

The €131 million eleven-storey development (35,000 sq. m.) adds to a corridor of academic activity and public interaction along Pearse Street in Dublin's city centre, providing new social spaces, commercial areas, and improved access to public transport. The new facility brings more than 900 researchers together in one building with the common goal of addressing…

Charles Institute of Dermatology is the first Phase the new 7,500 sq. m. Science Link Complex at UCD. The Science Link Complex will ultimately deliver 210 additional research spaces. The Charles Institute, comprising 3,000 sq. m., was completed in February 2011 and has enabled a cohort of 72 additional researchers at UCD to provide a…

RKD Architects congratulates the Guinness Storehouse on the successful opening of their new Guinness Academy in time for St. Patrick's Day. The Academy is where visitors can pour their own pint and receive certification during their visit to the Storehouse. The Academy is part of the continual attention to customer needs and part of a…

RKD has been appointed to the BAM design panel for the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The selection was made by BAM on account of RKD's specialist laboratory and pharmaceutical expertise. RKD will provide BAM with specialist expertise as part of an international multi-disciplinary team to develop a design to…

RKD has been appointed by M&E Contractors Mercury to carry out the design of the fit-out to the new Equinix ZH5 Datacentre in Zurich. The project comprises an overall area of over 6,670 sq. m. including a data hall space of 1,100 sq. m. "ZH5, located 6.5 km from Zurich city center, is scheduled for…

Working together with Michael Bradley Architecture, RKD has developed initial sketch schemes and feasibility studies for a luxury lakeside resort on Dianshan Lake in Shanghai's opulent Qingou district. The design evokes the Suzhou garden style by combining traditional courtyard architecture and water town features with modern elements in a clean and progressive manner. The intended…

Delivering a project that is a balance between budget and aesthetics requires a pragmatic approach to service delivery, collaboration and concept design. Our concept was simple, to seek opportunity from the existing, connecting floor plates both vertically and horizontally to enhance and improve connectivity, flexibility and agility. This led to excellent levels of efficiency, capitalising…

Flexibility and agility of Service Delivery was paramount in anticipating and responding to evolving client design requirements. The primary challenge for this project, outside of a fast track construction programme, was to deliver a solution that did not appear "designed", but more like it had evolved organically. Working closely with the client team, contractors and…

RKD has delivered a series of fit-outs and refurbishment projects that have enabled Primark to successfully expand European operations into Germany, where they currently employ more than 3,500 people. We have completed fit-outs at Berlin SSC, Dortmund and Frankfurt Nord Zentrum and completed refurbishment and fit-out projects at Gelsenkirchen, Hanover and Essen. The stores range…

RKD was engaged to produce a robust masterplan strategy capable of realising KFMC's vision to become the national Saudi Arabian benchmark by 2013 and the regional Middle Eastern benchmark by 2016, with continued sustainable development of the complex right through to 2025. Originally inaugurated in October 2004 by Crown Prince Abdullah, the colossal 50-hectare King…

Inchicore Primary Care Centre recently opened its doors to provide special tours to the public as part of the Irish Archtitecture Foundation's Open House Dublin festival, an event which was featured in the Irish Health Service Executive's national staff magazine Health Matters. Commenting on the design of the Primary Care Centre, Dorota Nieznanska of HSE…