The new Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, designed by architects Scott Tallon Walker incorporates a plethora of sustainable design technologies and innovative systems, all of which will reduce its carbon footprint.

SAS International’s System 600 acoustic lighting rafts were specified throughout the circular three-storey building and the headquarters’ ceiling has been designed as a feature in its own right.

System 600 rafts and modules is a high performance acoustic and lighting solution; exposing the concrete soffit allows the thermal mass of the building to be exploited. By allowing free air movement to the exposed concrete slabs 25w/m2 of cooling can be achieved, while offering design flexibility, reducing capital and installation costs.

The ceiling rafts have been installed in radial coffers throughout the open plan office space, perforated acoustic rafts alternate with acoustic rafts that incorporate luminaires. This alternating design has been enhanced by coffers with curved ends to emphasise the circular nature of the atrium.

Opened in February by President Mary McAleese the building employs sustainable technologies including Photovoltaic panels as external brise-soleil (also utilised on the client’s offshore navigation buoys) and uses the adjacent Irish Sea as the source for both heating and cooling the building.

David Cahill, Project Director for Scott Tallon Walker Architects, commented: “Our brief for the Commissioners of Irish Lights headquarters was to design a 21st century landmark building which was sensitive and reflective of the surrounding historic structures and marine environment.

 We worked with SAS International to design a ceiling system that would serve as one of the building’s features while ensuring that we adhered to CIL’s vision statement of delivering reliable, efficient and cost effective services to the navigation industry.”