Projects

Central Bank of Ireland - Dublin (IRL)

An environmentally-conscious bank

The new headquarters of the Central Bank of Ireland was built by renovating an existing structure and adopting technical solutions to optimise energy performance. It was the first building in the country to obtain Outstanding BREEAM certification and an A2 BER energy rating
Author
Donatella Bollani
Photos
Donal Murphy Photography
Architect
Peter McGovern (Studio Henry J Lyons)
Surfaces
ITALGRANITI
Year of completion
2017

The Central Bank of Ireland’s new headquarters in Dublin’s Docklands is a renewed and revitalised manifestation of the institution and its functions.
Its sculptural profile reflects the maritime setting and presents a commanding new civic identity through its protective outer curtain.
The internal transformation of the building blends flexible and efficient open plan offices with a variety of collaborative and collision spaces that create an innovative working landscape for the Bank’s 1,450 employees.
The heart of the North Wall Quay headquarters is the atrium equipped with collaborative spaces and a design that allows easy access throughout the building and the floors. The building has more than 250 internal meeting rooms and collaborative spaces, while the areas open to the public include a visitor centre and an archive. In recognition of the innovative concept of the spaces and the efforts to minimise environmental impact throughout the design and executive process, the project won the Universal Design category in the Irish Architecture Awards 2017.
The transformation of the existing concrete skeleton was designed to allow for the best possible layout of the offices and collaborative spaces, making a working landscape that places the individual as the focus. The insertion of platforms, bridges and staircases into what was to be an empty lightwell creates a dynamic central heart that supports an open and technology-rich culture.
A public exhibition space, conference facility, learning centre, and library complete the complex promoting internal and external communications.
The building form is created by wrapping the workplace in a glass skin which is shielded from glare and solar heat gain by an outer layer of anodized aluminium triangular mesh panels. The façade incorporates strong and dynamic sculptural forms expressing a unique identity and is broken down into a number of elements; the double glazed unitised inner skin, an outer solar shading skin, a unique glazing system to the atrium vertical walls and roof, and a rainscreen cladding which forms the roof plantscreen and rooftop canopy.
The White Experience marble-effect porcelain tile collection from Italgraniti Group was chosen in a 9.5 mm thickness for the floors and walls on both the interior and exterior of the new headquarters. The Statuario white and Pulpis grey colours faithfully reproduce the authenticity of marble, allowing for a high degree of versatility in terms of application.
White Experience combines powerful aesthetics with the strength, durability and ease of cleaning and maintenance that are typical of porcelain, while also meeting the strict demands for sustainability of contemporary architecture designed to achieve high environmental certification ratings.

Tiles
Italgraniti, White Experience
Type
porcelain stoneware
Sizes
30x60, 60x60, 60x120 cm
Colours
Statuario, Pulpis
Technical characteristics
Water absorpion (ISO 10545-3): ≤0,5%
Chemical resistance (ISO 10545-13): UA
Resistance to deep abrasion (ISO 10545-6): ≤ 150 mm3
Stain resistance (ISO 10545-14): compliant
Frost resistance (ISO 10545-12): compliant
Modulus of rupture and breaking strength (ISO 10545-4): ≥ 35 N/mm2
Slip resistance (DIN 51130): R9 - R10
Thermal shock resistance (ISO 10545-9): compliant
Crazing resistance (ISO 10545-11): compliant
Linear thermal expansion (ISO 10545-8): compliant
Certifications and awards
LEED
EMAS
ISO 14001
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