James Latham Dublin is leading the charge at a ground-breaking, low-carbon industrial development in the Republic of Ireland.
James Latham Dublin (formerly Abbey Woods, part of the James Latham Group), has provided Accoya timber to a pioneering North Dublin Operations Depot.
Around 1,700m2 of Accoya, in bespoke profiles and finishes, now forms part of the facility’s façades, demonstrating James Latham’s commitment to champion sustainable construction and timber’s suitability for hardwearing exterior applications.
Taking timber outdoors
There’s little doubt that the North Dublin Operations Depot is a game-changer for green construction in Ireland.
Located in Ballymun, this new facility, owned solely by Dublin City Council, is one of the area’s first buildings to meet the EU’s ‘Nearly Zero- Energy Building’ (NZEB) requirements.
Achieving this certification was no small feat considering the ultra-strict design brief the project was working to. The Depot had to keep energy outputs to a minimum and sustainable building products had to be specified wherever possible.
To add another layer of difficulty, the façade solution also had to withstand the location’s high levels of wind-driven rain.
This led JNP Architects to think carefully about which materials to use, particularly for the extensive cladding required for the depot’s façades.
Ultimately, Accoya supplied by James Latham Dublin was chosen.
High performance with low impact
Accoya is an innovative product helping to transform the perceptions of the timber category and its suitability for external façade systems.
Produced by sustainable wood solutions manufacturer Accsys, its durability, derived from an acetylation treatment, made it the perfect fit for the North Dublin Operations Depot project.
For visual appeal, JNP Architects chose to have the Accoya specially machined and factory-finished by another James Latham division, Dresser Mouldings, in a mixture of Teknos and Sansin coatings. This provided the depot’s vertical and horizontal cladding with further durability and reduced maintenance.
The project’s lead architect, Steven Linton, says: “Confronted with a brief like this, Accoya modified timber supplied by James Latham Dublin was an obvious choice of material to add to our palette.
“Not only that, James Latham shared their expertise throughout the process, working with our contractors to ensure correct and best outcomes when using the materials. It’s this accommodating added value service which makes them such a great partner to work with.”
Pointing to a greener future
To ensure every requirement was met, Purcell Construction, an Irish contractor experienced in working with Accoya, was brought onto the project to guarantee its flawless installation.
The result was a building envelope that seamlessly integrates with the rugged beauty of the Irish coastline, marrying form with function. With a 50-year warranty, it met the project’s requirement for a low-maintenance façade system with longevity.
“This project captured our imagination,” said Phil Roche, Director, James Latham Dublin. “Rather than a hindrance, the strict sustainability brief provided a welcome chance to showcase how timber can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with materials like concrete, glass and metal, offering comparable durability with far lower embodied emissions.
“Accoya, with its impressive low-carbon footprint and incredible strength, made it a no-brainer. Not only that, but it looks great too.”
Accoya is sustainably sourced and manufactured, embodying Dublin City and Fingal County Councils’ joint commitment to a greener future. It is a win-win outcome for Ireland’s local government and the planet, too – an example of the country’s forward-thinking approach to sustainable design.
James Latham is an independent UK distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces. It supplies products to a wide range of customers from contractors and merchants, to designers and makers, working with construction professionals, designers and architects. The company operates from 12 branches throughout the UK and Ireland.
* This article was originally published in Supplying Timber.
