Marina Miceli
Europe Press Office,London
Arup took home two awards at the LAMA Community & Council Awards ceremony for work carried out at the LexIcon Library in Dún Laoghaire and Greystones Harbour.
The state-of-the-art LexIcon library was named Best Public Building at the awards. The iconic library, located along the Dún Laoghaire waterfront, was purposefully designed to achieve high standards of environmental sustainability.
The library, which opened in December, re-interprets the traditional idea of a library by delivering a cultural, modern building that will encourage social and community interaction, while facilitating enquiry and learning.
The 6,500ft² library is one of the country's largest and includes a children’s and teenagers’ library, a reference library, modern IT facilities, an art gallery (with a workshop area next door), an auditorium, a coffee shop and cultural centre and meeting rooms.
Arup was responsible for the mechanical and electrical design services. We also provided sustainability consulting, incorporating innovative features on its construction, ventilation and energy conservation.
The Greystones Harbour project was also a winner on the night, taking home the award Best Civil Engineering Project of the Year.
The project involved the regeneration of the old Victorian harbour area, extending Greystones town to include a new 16 acre public park, a 230 berth marina to be enclosed by a new breakwater, 341 residential apartments, 5,500m² of commercial space, a new beach, reclamation and coastal protection works.
The overarching aim of the project was to develop a unique and contemporary marine village which is vibrant, accessible, secure, beautiful, and diverse.
The LAMA Community and Council awards recognise innovative infrastructure, community development and recreation projects as well as social impact initiatives.
