Royal Dublin Society – Simmonscourt House & Minerva House
10,800 sq. m BREEAM 'Excellent' office development
Following RKD’s masterplan for the redevelopment of the RDS’s 42-acre Ballsbridge site, the RDS appointed RKD to begin planning and design of its new buildings. The first phase of this new development forms two landmark office buildings, Simmonscourt House and Minerva House. These are the only buildings in Ireland to have achieved the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, a hallmark of energy efficiency.
These two blocks feature efficient and flexible floor plates that can accommodate a great range of open-plan, cellular and ancillary office configurations, allowing for multiple uses with a view on future flexibility. An inviting plaza has been created by skewing the orientation of the rectangular-shaped buildings. This plaza, facing Simmonscourt Road and leading to the existing field grounds, will be mirrored in a similar plaza on the opposite side of the road creating a dialogue for new buildings as part of the proposed masterplan.
The two 5-storey buildings share an architectural dialogue, harmonised by a series of panels and windows yet allowing each to retain its own aesthetic identity in detailing and pattern. The upper floor of each building is offset from the lower floor footprint, allowing for the spaces at this level to have access to a continuous roof terrace with views over the RDS complex and south Dublin.
Location
- Dublin, Ireland
Area
- 10,800 sq. m
Completion
- 2007
Cost
- €28.4m