Visit Armagh

ARMAGH COUNCIL BREEAMing WITH PRIDE

Armagh City and District Council has lots of reasons to be very proud of the new office accommodation and meeting facilities for the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat under construction in Lower English Street, Armagh.
 
The £3.5 million project, undertaken by building contractors, John Sisk & Son Ltd will be completed ahead of schedule in early February but Mayor of Armagh City and District Council, Thomas O’Hanlon explains an even more impressive environmental and sustainability achievement. “The building currently has a 77.6% BREEAM assessment for the design stage which is considered excellent but we’re confident today’s final BREEAM inspection will provide us with an even higher overall rating.”
 
BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and is a widely used method of assessing the environmental impact of buildings. The BREEAM benchmark is higher than regulations to ensure innovation and careful design, planning and operations are utilised. The building is measured not only on its energy use, but over a wide variety of building elements including transport, management, health and well being, water use, waste, land use & ecology and pollution.
 
The Lower English Street building is using the latest in energy saving technologies, including a biomass heating system from Austria and high efficiency, daylight & presence sensor controlled lighting and taps. The wonderful design by Armagh company, da architects ltd, maximises daylight and includes insect, swift and bat boxes. 55 different types of shrub species will also be planted in the building environs and on the green roof.
 
Mayor O’Hanlon adds, “In addition to employing over 200 workers since work commenced last May, SISK ensured as many local materials and suppliers were involved and the modern three story building remains sensitive to the surrounding Georgian environment. A fitting tribute to the site which used to house the old City Hall. Being only one of a handful of projects in Northern Ireland to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certificate is a wonderful accolade for Armagh and for everyone involved in the project.”
 
Armagh City and District Council has recently been asked to sponsor a conservation award in the Royal Society of Ulster Architects 2010 Design awards which are currently open for application, culminating in the awards event in May. The Council has also been asked to host the Ministerial Advisory Group for Architecture and the Built Environment for Northern Ireland symposium in April. These prestigious associations are testament to recognition of Armagh’s architectural importance which the council has always sought to protect through a clear policy of sympathetic development and responsible choices.
 
The new home for the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat is just one of many recent developments Armagh Council is very proud of. In November the people of Armagh celebrated the completion of a major £5 m city centre public realm scheme which completed several months early and within budget. Armagh Council worked in partnership with the Department of Social Development, Armagh City Centre Management, DRD Roads Service and the contractor, SIAC Construction Ltd on a regeneration scheme which restored the city to its former glory helping to attract and stimulate further private sector investment and entice visitors to spend time in the vibrant city centre, enjoying the shops, restaurants, café culture and events.
 
Thirty businesses are about to benefit from Shop Frontage grants and the Public Art elements of the project will be unveiled in 2010. This year will also see further progress on the redevelopment of Armagh Gaol, a Grade B+ listed building built in 1780 and closed in 1986.
 
“The Trevor Osborne Property Group in partnership with the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, will be working with Armagh Council on this prestigious project restoring the Georgian building and providing Armagh with a fantastic new luxury hotel.” said O’Hanlon.
 
“These projects show how Armagh Council is committed to continuing the development and regeneration of Armagh and working with partners to ensure the economy, the environment, heritage and design can all work in tandem to provide a vibrant placed to live, work and visit.”