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South Dublin County Council’s brief for the Tallaght Innovation Centre (now operating as Work IQ) was to provide a high-quality architectural landmark within the new public realm of an emerging urban quarter. It required a variety of office spaces for companies from 2-13 persons – these were to be stimulating, safe, secure, and connected to the collective through the design of the building. In addition to this the ground floor was to be an active public space for the council, for the Oxford Innovation team who run Work IQ, as well as an inviting place for members of the public and potential clients. Our design meets the client’s objectives of providing modern, flexible workspace, delivering an attractive enterprise culture, supporting the community of businesses, and connecting to the town.
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Tallaght Innovation Centre is a landmark of the Tallaght Innovation Quarter. South Dublin County Council’s masterplan for the Quarter overlays a new north-south axis of civic spaces and buildings from which to structure the expansion of Tallaght town centre. The brownfield site of Work IQ is on the northern arm of this axis, holding a pivotal position above a new linear park. Its taut green metal and glass-clad box form provides views on all sides to the surrounding town and mountains beyond. At ground level, a south-facing outdoor terrace opens from the café to the park, a newly activated space with playground, basketball, table tennis and recreational areas amidst lush planting. The park spreads out like a carpet from the building, providing a new public realm for the wider community.
Work IQ is one of the first buildings in Ireland to be connected and operational with District Heating. Waste heat from a nearby data centre is reused at Work IQ through a high-efficiency water-to-water heat pump. This innovative approach reduces carbon emissions by approximately 1,500 tonnes annually, making a significant impact on the nation’s decarbonisation. The building also maximises passive design techniques. It is naturally ventilated throughout, and high-performance facades minimise solar heat gains whilst maintaining high light transmittance and reducing heating/cooling energy demand. The building achieves an A3 BER and is NZEB standard. This sustainable approach is further enhanced by the new linear park which increases biodiversity in the area.
The concept is a transparent and open building that looks in four directions. Four storeys high, the ground floor is open and inviting, a public space you can see through from side-to-side. The form is designed to ensure a sense of community and well-being for its users. The elimination of long corridors fosters this, and glazed doors terminate each side with views to the landscape beyond. A void over the ground floor Town Hall area, flooded with natural light, allows for visual connections between levels. Smaller break out spaces, including carefully designed furniture, layer into the design to encourage collaboration and flexibility. A south-facing outdoor terrace opens from the café to the new park. Our design solution also connects to SDCC’s pioneering district heating system, part of Tallaght’s Green Infrastructure. The building has been designed from first principles to be inclusive and welcoming. It is fully accessible to all, with orientation aided by careful wayfinding and furniture choices. Public amenities are located on the ground floor, which is anchored by the central concrete reception desk and sculptural column. Levels are accessible by lift and stairs, with large painted numbers in stairwells to orientate users. A central atrium provides a focal point and daylight to the generous circulation spaces. The materials selected create an industrial aesthetic with exposed finishes throughout – concrete walls and floors, mesh ceilings, ply cladding.
The design and budget sought solutions commensurate with the highly visible impact of the building as well as the more modest means of the startup businesses. The operators sought office space with efficient net-to-gross rationed areas alongside important shared and public areas. The completed scheme is bold and impactful, while also modest in its materiality and finishes. The offices are efficient and shared town hall/reception at street level is both impressive and effective.
McCullough Mulvin Architects is a Dublin-based practice. We combine contemporary insight with highly developed conservation skills to create sustainable projects that fully integrate old buildings with new architecture. Our approach is thoughtful, our way of building applicable in any culture and society, with award-winning buildings both in Ireland and internationally.
Together with other long-term collaborators, we work at a range of scales, including cultural buildings, housing projects, hotels, offices, libraries, healthcare, schools and university buildings. We extend our practice through research, writing, films, and exhibitions, exploring the themes that inform our work.
The practice has been acclaimed internationally with awards including recent RIBA International Award for Excellence 2024, Overall Winner of The Plan Awards Italy 2021, DETAIL Readers’ Prize 2020 (Thapar University Learning Laboratory), and World Architecture Festival Finalist 2023 (Printing House Square).
