Project Summary

Park West is a unique and innovative development being the first large scale conversion project of unused office accommodation to residential homes in Ireland. The former office block, which lay vacant for over 20 years, underwent a major redevelopment which included the conversion of two, four-storey office blocks into a five-storey development with 86 apartments. Tuath worked with an external consultant to undertake a lifecycle analysis (LCA) of the Parkwest office conversion.

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Background

Sustainability is a core principle within Tuath’s development strategy, and one of the most sustainable forms of housing provision is working with buildings that already exist.

The LCA measured the environmental impact associated with the whole-of-life renovation, comparing it against (a) full demolition and re-build and (b) a new build of comparable residential building. Taking into account every part of the Parkwest life cycle (from building material extraction to its end operational use), the preliminary LCA results have indicated an 82% reduction in embodied carbon when compared with a new build of similar type; and a 90% embodied carbon reduction versus a demolition and re-build.

The development’s emphasis on sustainability, community living, and job creation makes it a significant asset to the local area, providing a blueprint for future developments in Dublin and beyond. As a result of the success of Park West, Tuath and Local Authorities across Dublin are identifying additional conversion projects in the city.

"The success of the Parkwest development reaffirms the very real environmental benefits of office renovation projects, and will help inform decisions regarding future renovation. Transforming unused spaces promotes sustainable urban development by utilising existing infrastructure and reducing the need for new construction."

Martin Loughran - Director of Development, Tuath

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