We are proud to have been the Building Services Engineers on the design team for the transformative cultural centre in Tulla, County Clare. This project successfully adapted a disused former primary school, built circa 1880 within the curtilage of the protected Tulla Convent, into a vibrant cultural hub featuring a stage, performance/community space, café, bar, and community amenities.

By carefully planning and executing the modern M&E installation, we transformed a 19th-century building into a sustainable, low-energy cultural hub, extending its life for future generations while providing a comfortable and high-performance environment for the community.

Our core challenge was to integrate high-performance, sustainable M&E systems into the historic fabric of a Protected Structure, significantly improving its energy efficiency while preserving its architectural integrity.

Sustainable Mechanical & Electrical Design Highlights:

• Our design approach focused on maximising system efficiency and minimising the building’s operational carbon footprint. The comprehensive scope of work included the full installation and commissioning of new mechanical and electrical services, replacing all redundant, outdated systems.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC):

• Installation of a highly energy-efficient heating system, designed to integrate seamlessly with the upgraded building envelope. The system provides zoned control to optimise energy use based on the specific function and occupancy of the performance area, cafe, and community spaces.
• Implementation of a modern, demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system to ensure optimal indoor air quality and comfort, particularly in the main performance area, while recovering heat from extracted air to reduce heating load.

Electrical and Lighting Systems:

• Complete re-wiring and installation of new electrical infrastructure throughout the existing and new build elements, adhering to the latest safety and efficiency standards.
• Specification and installation of high-efficiency LED lighting throughout the facility. The lighting scheme incorporates intelligent controls (e.g., presence and daylight dimming sensors) to drastically reduce energy consumption while complementing the restored internal finishes.

Plumbing and Drainage:

• Installation of new, efficient domestic hot and cold-water systems serving the café, bar, toilets, and showers.

Building Fabric Integration:

• Our M&E design worked in tandem with the extensive fabric restoration—including the partial roof re-slating, timber window restoration, and internal wall upgrades with lime render—to ensure the services met a significantly improved thermal envelope. This synergy allows the new M&E plant to run at optimum efficiency.
• Integration of new cast iron rainwater goods and the installation of a perforated perimeter French drain to manage moisture and protect the building foundations, ensuring the long-term integrity of the building fabric and the longevity of the internal services.