Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley recently opened his department’s new office on the Newtown Road in Wexford.

The building of six and half thousand square metres is situated overlooking the Slaney estuary on the outskirts of Wexford town. The building was commissioned by the Office of Public Works and was designed by Scott Tallon Walker Architects and built by Pierse Construction Limited.

The building is designed and built to be a sustainable building for the 21st century. It incorporates many environmentally friendly features. It has high levels of natural daylight and natural ventilation. Its high performance glazing helps to retain heat in the winter and reduce solar gain in summer. Other environmental measures include intelligent lighting systems to reduce energy wastage, high insulation standards, water conservation measures including reducing rainfall runoff with a sedum roof and reinforced grass car parking.

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Minister Gormley said: "High quality architecture and urban design have a real place in the pursuit of sustainability. I believe this building shows how we get it right when we invest in good quality design and high building standards."

According to the department, sustainability was a key driver in determining all aspects of the building design and influenced the decision making process at every stage in both design and construction of this office.

NS