April 2016 NUI Galway’s Biomedical Sciences Building Wins Prestigious US Award for Sustainability

NUI Galway’s Biomedical Sciences Building has been awarded one of the prestigious Top Ten Design Award for Sustainability by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE), the only award outside of the United States. 

The COTE Top Ten Awards program, now in its 20th year, is the profession’s most rigorous recognition program for sustainable design excellence. The program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology.

NUI Galway’s Biomedical Sciences Building opened in 2014 and provides high technology science research space dedicated to cancer research, medical device technology, biomaterials science, glycoscience, regenerative medicine and chemical biology. 

On awarding the honour the AIA said: “The design of the Biomedical Sciences Building embraces the moderate climate of Ireland. By locating low-load spaces along the perimeter of the building, the project is able to take advantage of natural ventilation. Due to this approach, 45% of this intensive research building is able to function without mechanical ventilation. This is an extremely simple, yet radical approach and is rarely implemented to even a modest extent in similar laboratories in comparable US climates.”

Professor Tim O’Brien, Dean of NUI Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: “The same design team also delivered the University’s Lambe Institute for Translational Research which works in collaboration with the Biomedical Sciences Building to provide a unique blend of research in the field of biomedical science.”

Speaking of the award, John Gibney, Director of Physical Resources at NUI Galway, said: “We are delighted with this award for the Biomedical Sciences Building. This is well-deserved recognition by the American Institute of Architects for the collaborative and innovative design by Payette Architects, Anthony Reddy Architects and their design team, and the design and build team led by J.J. Rhatigan & Company. It is further demonstration of NUI Galway’s commitment to sustainability in the development and operation of its buildings and estate.”

More information on the Top Ten Awards is available at http://www.aia.org/press/AIAB108782.

-Ends-

Gradam Meiriceánach mór le rá don Inbhuanaitheacht buaite ag an bhFoirgneamh Eolaíochta Bithleighis in OÉ Gaillimh

Tá ceann de na Gradaim do na Deich nDearadh is fearr don Inbhuanaitheacht bainte amach ag an bhFoirgneamh Eolaíochta Bithleighis in OÉ Gaillimh. Bhronn an American Institute of Architects (AIA) agus a Choiste Comhshaoil (COTE) an gradam ar an Ollscoil, an t-aon ghradam a bronnadh lasmuigh de na Stáit Aontaithe. 

Is í seo an fichiú bliain do na Gradaim COTE - an t-aitheantas is airde is féidir a fháil as sárchaighdeán do dhearadh inbhuanaithe sa ghairm.  Déanann an clár ceiliúradh ar thionscadail a thagann chun cinn mar gheall ar chur chuige comhtháite i leith ailtireachta, córas nádúrtha agus teicneolaíochta.

Osclaíodh Foirgneamh Eolaíochta Bithleighis OÉ Gaillimh sa bhliain 2014 agus tá spás ann do thaighde eolaíochta ardteicneolaíochta dírithe ar thaighde ailse, teicneolaíocht feistí leighis, eolaíocht bithábhar, gliceolaíocht, leigheas athghiniúnach agus bitheolaíocht cheimiceach. 

Agus an gradam á bhronnadh dúirt an AIA: “Cuimsíonn dearadh an Fhoirgnimh Eolaíochta Bithleighis aeráid mheasartha na hÉireann. Trí spásanna atá tíosach ar fhuinneamh a lonnú ar imeall an fhoirgnimh, is féidir leis an tionscadal úsáid a bhaint as aeráil nádúrtha. I ngeall ar an gcur chuige seo, tá 45% den fhoirgneamh taighde seo in ann feidhmiú gan aerú meicniúil. Cur chuige thar a bheith simplí ach radacach é seo agus ní minic a chuirtear i bhfeidhm é, fiú de bheagán, i saotharlanna dá shamhail in aeráidí inchurtha le Meiriceá.”

Dúirt an tOllamh Tim O’Brien, Déan Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte in OÉ Gaillimh: “Is í seo an fhoireann chéanna dearaidh a d’oibrigh ar Institiúid Lambe don Taighde Aistritheach san Ollscoil a oibríonn i gcomhar leis an bhFoirgneamh Eolaíochta Bithleighis chun meascán uathúil taighde a chur ar fáil i réimse na heolaíochta bithleighis.”

Ag labhairt dó faoin ngradam, dúirt John Gibney, an Stiúrthóir Acmhainní Fisiciúla in OÉ Gaillimh: “Tá an-áthas orainn an gradam seo a fháil don Fhoirgneamh Eolaíochta Bithleighis. Is aitheantas é seo ón American Institute of Architects atá tuillte go maith ag an dearadh comhoibríoch agus nuálach a rinne Ailtirí Payette, Ailtirí Anthony Reddy agus a bhfoirne dearaidh, agus an fhoireann dearaidh agus tógála faoi stiúir J.J. Rhatigan & Company. Is léiriú é arís eile ar chomh meáite is atá OÉ Gaillimh don inbhuanaitheacht i bhforbairt agus i bhfeidhmiú a cuid foirgneamh agus eastát.”

Tá tuilleadh eolais faoi na Gradaim do na Deich nDearadh is fearr le fáil ar http://www.aia.org/press/AIAB108782.

-Críoch-