Westmeath's new County Buildings have been officially opened in Mullingar, following a two year construction project.

The council sought an energy efficient building that would provide comfortable working conditions, while working within its strict capital and operational budgets.

The 74,900 square feet County Buildings incorporates low-energy, passive design concepts relying on a natural ventilation strategy throughout the building and maximised the use of natural light.

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Bennett's Construction Ltd built the scheme, which was designed by architect Bucholz McEvoy.

Heating is supplied to the building by natural and mechanical means. The building has been designed to heat up during daytime operational hours by means of Solar Gain or radiation from the sun.

A Building Management System (BMS) will enable the control of the various heating, ventilation and lighting elements by means of a single and centralized personal computer.

The building was constructed using sustainable materials, including timber cladding, and limestone.

(PR/JM)