Gabriel Toolan Offices
LMS07
INSPIRATION
Gabriel’s partner Jan Alexander had just had her house designed by Colin Bell. Gabriel liked it very much and asked him to design a new office block for him. He wanted it to be as eco-friendly as possible. The protection of the environment is something that had concerned him for years and he has always tried to have a small footprint om the planet; he has been vegetarian since he was 19.
Gabriel’s father had started the firm of solicitors and the office used to be across the street. The site that the new building now stands on used to be the family home.
They received a LAMA award for the building in 2008.
TYPE OF HOUSE
New, purpose built solicitors office block
POINT OF INTEREST
Modern office block, where the working environment is light, spacious and very green. A good example of modern sustainable building.
ECO ELEMENTS
Asked Colin to come up with an office block that would be as eco-friendly as possible. Colin did some research with Queens University, Belfast into the most ecological way to build a work environment; it came out conclusively that a steel and concrete build is better environmentally for an office- which is a space that is not used at night/weekends or holidays. Concrete keeps buildings cool therefore no need for AC.
Green car park and many other green spaces - atrium, court yard, roof gardens; was aiming to have the sme footprint of green spaces in the building as built on land.
CREATIVE ELEMENTS
Lots of light into the offices through the atrium.
ARCHITECT/DESIGN BY
Colin Bell
BUILDER
Frank Maxwell
MATERIALS
| Foundations | Concrete |
| Walls | Concrete blocks |
| Roof | Slate |
| Insulation | Newspaper |
| Finishings | Irish timber throughout from Clarke Cunningham |
HEAT SOURCE
Heat source: Wood pellet boiler. Had to learn to use it but very happy not to have oil.
WATER SOURCE
Mains
WASTE
Mains
GARDEN
Atrium, roof gardens, courtyard and green carpark. A very green office space.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Had to change the front design to comply with planning, so not what he originally wanted.
Project management: He had to spend on average one day a week making decisions and managing the build.
Satisfaction rating: very, very happy with the space. Works well for everyone.
Time scale: 18 months
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