Property development D/RES has commenced work on a €3.2m net zero carbon project in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

The project at the Altidore Gardens development is expected to be the first privately developed creche and community centre in Ireland to be built to net zero carbon principles.

Construction on the creche began this month and will be followed immediately by works on the community centre.

Both facilities will be constructed from what D/RES described as responsibly sourced, mass-engineered timber to improve construction efficiency and reduce the embodied carbon associated with traditional construction.

Mass engineered timber consists of cross laminated timber (CLT), an engineered wood product consisting of layers of kiln-dried dimension lumber, and glue laminated timber (glulam), high performance beams and columns made by glueing parallel timber laminates together.

The floors, walls, and roof will be made with CLT, while the columns, beams and rafters will be made with glulam.

The community centre and creche will be Ireland’s first privately developed mass engineered timber public buildings.

While the substructure (foundations, rising walls, and ground floor slab) incorporates concrete, all superstructure above the ground floor will be constructed from mass engineered timber.

The community centre will be handed over to Wicklow County Council upon completion, and the creche will open to pupils early next year.

“I am delighted to announce the commencement of construction on these groundbreaking public buildings in Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow," said Patrick Durkan, chief executive of D/RES.

"This project is about delivering sustainable, environmentally friendly, and future-proof infrastructure for Ireland.

"This milestone isn’t just a first for D/RES; it's a national first for privately developed public buildings, setting a new benchmark for low-carbon, high-performance construction. 

"It clearly demonstrates that Net-Zero Carbon principles are achievable and should be the standard for Ireland's future.

"D/RES is committed to contributing directly to healthy, vibrant, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible spaces for communities across Ireland, setting a clear path for the industry and public building development.” 

Construction is being undertaken with Construct Innovate, the Irish Green Building Council, the University of Galway, and the Timber in Construction Steering Group.

Both buildings are designed for natural ventilation, with automated actuators in the creche and manually opening windows in the community centre.

Only the children’s sleeping room in the creche will have a split A/C unit to maintain temperatures between 18°C-20°C.

The project incorporates renewable generation through solar PV provision, which will supply 20 per cent of the operational energy use for each building.

Photo: (l-r) Kevin Durkan, chief operating officer; Patrick Durkan, chief executive; and Brett Chrystal, head of sustainable design, D/RES. (Pic: Supplied)