A range of different FSC certified products from both Coillte Panel Product's brands, Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB, have been used in two major building projects in Ireland – the Aviva Stadium at Landsdown Road in Dublin, and Microsoft's first EMEA data centre outside the US, in Grangecastle, Co. Dublin.

The new Aviva Stadium has an all-seated capacity of 50,000 and consists of a continuous curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground. This prestigious project was delivered on time and within the €410m budget. Microsoft employs 1,200 people in Ireland and developed the €341m, 28,000sqm data centre at Grange Castle, Co. Dublin.

The design and construction teams have won high acclaim from Microsoft: "The safest, most professional, timely and efficient delivery of a project in the Microsoft Data Centre Programme," said Brian Matson, Director of Data Centre Development with Microsoft. Ireland's biggest building contractor, John Sisk & Son Ltd. was the main contractor on both projects.

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The Aviva Stadium, by architects Populous with Dublin-based Scott Tallon Walker, used products from the Medite MDF range, including Medite MR (bar areas, catering areas, shelving units and retail unit fronts), whose moisture resistant properties were an effective solution for construction which at times could be semi-exposed. Sisks also used 11mm SmartPly OSB as a temporary protective layer over fair faced block walls in high circulation areas during the construction phase.

Microsoft's new Grange Castle data centre by RKD Ltd in Dublin, also used both SmartPly and Medite throughout the project. SmartPly SiteProtect, the durable, pre-coated, smooth panel developed specifically for hoarding and security applications was chosen as the site hoarding for the project. SiteProtect has been embraced by contractors across Ireland, including Sisk, who have been seeking an FSC certified, high quality, secure site barrier product which is locally produced and manufactured. Medite's FR (Euro class B & C flame retardant) MDF was also specified throughout key areas of the building.

(CD)