The Energy Retrofit Technology upskilling project
Between 2012 and 2017, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street hosted a series of ground breaking conferences exploring the technological and educational implications of the Nearly Zero Energy Building or NZEB standard. Each conference featured work produced by industry-based postgraduate students who had completed the following suite of new programmes which had been developed using funding from Springboard, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and EU Horizon 2020.
- Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit
- Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit
- MSc Energy Retrofit Technology
- CPD Diploma in Thermal Bridge Assessment - NSAI recognised
- CPD Diploma in BIM Technologies
- CPD Diploma in Collaborative BIM
- Certificate in Professional Energy Skills in NZEB - online
The programme development project was initiated and developed by Head of Department Cormac Allen, in realisation of the Department of Architectural Technology mission to provide a suite of undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD courses, which meet the life long educational needs of the professional Architectural Technologist. Whilst originally designed for an Architectural Technology audience, these programmes have developed as multi-disciplinary programmes which include Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Architectural Technologists.
The MSc Energy Retrofit Technology was revalidated as the TU414 MSc in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) while the CPD Diplomas in BIM were used to form the basis of the TU415 in applied Building Information Modelling and Management.
The work exhibited and presentations delivered at each of these six conferences are featured below.
In June 2017, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street hosted conference on upskilling education and how this will impact on the requirement to meet the challenge of the EPBD 30kw/h NZEB target.
Session 1: Residential NZEB
- 14.00 Welcome: Cormac Allen, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architectur
- 14.05 A DIT cloud-based online learning model for EU-wide NZEB upskilling: Cormac Alle
- 14.15 Future-proofing: Meeting the challenge of the EPBD 30kw/h NZEB target: Simon McGuinness, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.30 Upskilling the NZEB Professional to design a 30kWh/m2a residential dwelling:
- The NZEB Architect: Anne Madaire, PGCertDAER 30kWh graduate
- The NZEB Engineer: Pierce Fahy aka, PGCertDAER 30kWh graduate
- The NZEB Building Surveyor: Colin Bolger, PGCertDAER 30kWh graduate
- The NZEB Architectural Technologist: Olivia Golden, PGCertDAER 30kWh graduate
- The 5 enablers of NZEB upskilling:
- 15.00 Panel discussion: Chair Jim Coady FRIAI
Session 2: Non-Residential NZEB
- 16.00 What does NZEB mean for Architecture in Ireland:
- Ciaran O’Connor, State Architect
- Sean Armstrong, Building Standards Advisor, Department of Housing
- John Dolan, Senior Engineer, Department of Education & Skills
- 16.30 DIT MSc in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design): Joseph Little, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 16.45 Les huit points d'architecture de l'Anthropocène: Cormac Allen, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 16.50 Panel discussion: Chair Jim Coady FRIAI
- 17.30 End
The following PDFs are samples of the PGCertDAER 30kWh house design projects:
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Anne Madaire
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Brian Collentine
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Colin Bolger
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Melina Sharp
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Olivia Golden
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Padraic Cullen
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Paul Kopik
- NZEB 30kWhm2a Dwelling Pierce Fahy
Samples of the Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) and Energy Retrofit Technology work are available on the Student Work section of the SABE website.
In April 2016, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street hosted conference on the H2020 Meeting of Energy professional Skills (MEnS) upskilling project.
The conference was centred on the H2020 funded 'Meeting of Energy professional Skills' (MEnS) project, and explored the challenges and opportunities for upskilling building design professionals in Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB).
The conference introduced the DIT ARCH1182 Professional Energy Skills in NZEB module, A H2020-funded MEnS upskilling module available free of charge to Architects, Engineers, Building Surveyors and Architectural Technologists.
The conference also featured an exhibition of MSc Energy Retrofit Technology NZEB retrofit designs for multi-unit housing, schools and office buildings.
Session 1: Meeting of Energy professional Skills (MEnS)
- 14.00 Welcome: Philip Lee Solicitor, Inaugural Chair of the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC)
- 14.10 Capacity building in response to EPDB: Majella Kelleher Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
- 14.20 Achieving NZEB performances in Irish School Design: John Dolan, Senior Engineer & Energy Programme Coordinator, Department of Education & Skills
- 14.35 Horizon 2020 experiences in multi-jurisdictional NZEB upskilling: Dr Valeria Branciforti, Meeting of Energy professional Skills (MEnS)
- 14.55 Upskilling: An Irish Architectural Benevolent Society perspective: Jim Coady, IABS + Coady Partnership
- 15.05 Panel discussion: Opportunities and barriers to upskilling: Chair Jim Coady
- 15.30 Break (nZEB exhibition)
Session 2: Application of new skills in practice
- 15.45 Using dynamic online media to reach the working professional through blended learning: Malachy Mathews, Dublin School of Architecture, DIT
- 16.05 Thermal modelling design services: Dara Stewart, Architect + NSAI-registered Thermal Modeller, Energy consultant at IHER Energy Services
- 16.20 Integrating thermal modelling in engineering design services: Patrick Field, O’Connor Sutton Cronin (OCSC) Multidisciplinary Consulting Engineers
- 16.35 Frontline upskilling experiences: Introduced by Simon McGuinness, Dublin School of Architecture, DIT
- 17.00 Panel Discussion: Chair Eamon Ryan TD, Green Party / former Minister for Energy
- 17.30 End: Wine reception (nZEB exhibition in restaurant)
The following PDFs are conference presentations:
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Samples of the Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) and Energy Retrofit Technology work are available on the Student Work section of the SABE website.
In June 2015, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street hosted 'NZEB 15 - National Retrofit Conference', the fourth in a series of six NZEB conferences featuring the work of the following Springboard and SEAI supported programmes:
- Postgraduate Certificate (Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit)
- Postgraduate Diploma (Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit)
- MSc (Energy Retrofit Technology)
- CPD Diploma (Thermal Bridge Assessment)
The work included the following nZEB retrofit design projects:
- nZEB DEAP Residential (The DCC Crumlin Cottage)
- nZEB PHPP School (Department of Education & Skills)
- nZEB NEAP Office (Liberty Hall)
The running order of the 'NZEB 15 - National Retrofit Conference' was as follows:
Session 1
- 14.00 Welcome Orna Hanly, Head of Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.05 Energy Retrofit Technology upskilling opportunities in DIT School of Architecture Cormac Allen, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.15 Session 1 Keynote: nZEB Business and Enterprise Opportunities Paul Butler, Enterprise Ireland
- 14.30 Mainstreaming the Thermal Bridge: a critique of the TGD L Approved Construction Details Simon McGuinness, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.50 The Crumlin Cottage: lessons for replicable nZEB retrofit social housing projects Catherine Mara, PGCert Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit student
- 15.00 Upskilling for site workers: External Wall Insulation, Air Tightness Testing, IT for Site Workers Joseph Little, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 15.15 Putting BIM in its context: what BIM can bring to the nZEB challenge Malachy Mathews, Dublin School of Architecture
- 15.30 Break
Session 2
- 15.45 Meeting of Energy Professional Skills (MEnS): Horizon 2020 nZEB module for EU: Jennifer Boyer, Assistant Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 15.55 PhPP nZEB for schools: lessons for replicable nZEB retrofit standard school projects: Eamon Gogarty, PGDip Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit student
- 16.05 Liberty Hall nZEB: Office: lessons for replicable nZEB retrofit office projects: Patrick Daly, Dublin School of Architecture
- 16.20 NEAP nZEB for offices: lessons for replicable nZEB retrofit office projects: Alan Carr, PGDip Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit student
- 16.30 Energy Retrofit Technology research at Dublin School of Architecture: Daniel Coyle, Dublin School of Architecture, MSc Energy Retrofit Technology graduate
- 16.45 Session 2 Keynote: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD): A Legal Perspective: Philip Lee, Managing Partner, Philip Lee Solicitors
- 17.00 Panel discussion: Professor J Owen Lewis, Chair IGBC
- 17.30 End
The following PDFs are samples of the flattop_RETROFIT work:
The Crumlin Cottage
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Brendan Guiden
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Catherine Mara
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Jenny Power
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Juan Lazaro
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Keith Ludlow
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Marcin Badurek
- 2014-15 nZEB Crumlin Cottage Nicola Da Ponte
Department of Education Generic School
- 2014-15 nZEB School Alan Carr
- 2014-15 nZEB School AlexanderOToole
- 2014-15 nZEB School David Keogh
- 2014-15 nZEB School Eamon Gogarty
- 2014-15 nZEB School Tom Downes
Liberty Hall
- 2014-15 nZEB Office Alan Carr
- 2014-15 nZEB Office Alexander O_Toole
- 2014-15 nZEB Office David Keogh
- 2014-15 nZEB Office Tom Downes
MSc Energy Retrofit Technology
The following PDFs are presentations from the the event:
- nZEB15 Session 1 00 Introduction
- nZEB15 Session 1 01 Cormac Allen
- nZEB15 Session 1 03 Simon McGuinness
- nZEB15 Session 1 04 Catherine Mara
- nZEB15 Session 1 05 Joseph Little
- nZEB15 Session 1 06 Malachy Mathews
- nZEB15 Session 2 01 Jennifer Boyer
- nZEB15 Session 2 02 Eamon Gogarty
- nZEB15 Session 2 03 Patrick Daly
- nZEB15 Session 2 04 Alan Carr
- nZEB15 Session 2 05 Daniel Coyle
- nZEB15 Session 2 06 Philip Lee
Further samples of the Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) and Energy Retrofit Technology work are available on the Student Work section of the SABE website.
In June 2014, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street hosted 'NZEB 14 - National Retrofit Conference', the third in a series of six NZEB conferences featuring the work of the following Springboard supported programmes:
- Postgraduate Certificate (Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit)
- Postgraduate Diploma (Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit)
- MSc (Energy Retrofit Technology)
- CPD Diploma (Thermal Bridge Assessment)
- CPD Diploma (BIM Technologies)
- CPD Diploma (Collaborative BIM)
The work included the following nZEB retrofit design projects:
- nZEB DEAP Residential (BRE Scotland)
- nZEB PHPP School (Department of Education & Skills)
- nZEB NEAP Office (Dublin Airport Authority)
The running order of the 'NZEB 14 - National Retrofit Conference' was as follows:
Session 1
- 14.00 Welcome: Orna Hanly, Head of School, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.10 nZEB, Retrofit and BIM - A national policy perspective: Dr Brian Motherway, Chief Executive SEAI
- 14.25 Springboard Reboot 2014 - New programmes in Dublin School of Architecture: Cormac Allen, Head of Architectural Technology, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.35 nZEB Residential - BRE 4-in-a-block replicable multi-unit residential retrofit: Simon McGuinness, Dublin School of Architecture
- 14.50 Qualibuild - Upskilling builders in low energy construction: Mark Keyes, IT Blanchardstown / Qualibuild
- 15.00 The Why value - Retrofit thermal bridging and standard values: Andrew Lundberg, Dublin School of Architecture + CPD Dip (TBA) students
- 15.15 From BIM to BCAR - Multi-disciplinary collaboration opportunities in S.I.9: Malachy Mathews, Dublin School of Architecture + CPD Dip (BIM Tech) students
Session 2
- 15.45 Undergraduate science and technology research: 3 selected BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology research projects
- 16.00 nZEB Office: DAA Aer Lingus Head Office Building replicable office retrofit: Patrick Daly, Dublin School of Architecture + PGDip DAER students
- 16.15 Schools for 21st Century Learners: DoE+S competition winning school project: Deirdre Lennon, Gilroy McMahon Architects
- 16.45 nZEB School: DoE+S Boyd Barrett replicable PHPP school retrofit: Simon McGuinness, Dublin School of Architecture + PGDip DAER students
- 17.00 nZEB, Retrofit and BIM: A political perspective: Ruairi Quinn TD Minister for Education & Skills
- 17.15 Panel discussion: Chair Professor J Owen Lewis, Irish Green Building Council
The following PDFs are samples of the flattop_RETROFIT work:
nZEB residential: 4-in-a-block
- 2013-14 nZEB 4-in-a-block Alan Carr
- 2013-14 nZEB 4-in-a-block Alexander OToole
- 2013-14 nZEB 4-in-a-block David Keogh
- 2013-14 nZEB 4-in-a-block Eamon Gogarty
- 2013-14 nZEB 4-in-a-block Tom Downes
nZEB school: Boyd-Barret schools
- 2013-14 nZEB School Daniel Coyle
- 2013-14 nZEB School David Ledwith
- 2013-14 nZEB School Eanna McManus
- 2013-14 nZEB School Ian Black
- 2013-14 nZEB School Mo Zainal
- 2013-14 nZEB School Raymond OReilly
- 2013-14 nZEB School Richard Callaghan
nZEB office: Dublin Airport Authority Head Office Building
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Colette Harold
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Daniel Coyle
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Eanna McManus
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Ian Black
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Mo Zainal
- 2013-14 nZEB Office Richard Callaghan
In September 2012, with the financial support of the Higher Education Authority and Springboard, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street admitted 100 unemployed architects and architectural technologists to its programmes in Energy Retrofit Technology, Thermal Bridge Assessment and BIM Technologies.
To mark the completion of the second year of the PGCertDAER programme, the Dublin School of Architetcure hosted the second in a series of six NZEB conferences. The running order of the flattop_RETROFIT conference was as follows:
- 16.00 Springboard at DIT: Cormac Allen DIT
- 16.15 Keynote: Professor J Owen Lewis
- 16.30 CPD Cert (Thermal Bridge Assessment): Andrew Lundberg DIT
- 16.45 CPD Diploma (BIM Technologies): Kevin Furlong DIT
- 17.00 CPD Certificate (BIM Architecture): Malachy Mathews DIT
- 17.15 MSc Energy Retrofit Technology: Simon McGuinness DIT
- 17.45 Discussion
- 18.00 End
The following PDFs are samples of the flattop_RETROFIT work:
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Alan Tier
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Collete Harold
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop David Ledwith
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Eanna McManus
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Ian Black
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Mo Zainal
- 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Richard Callaghan
See this presentation for an overview of the Flattop project: 2012-13 nZEB Flattop Overview Simon McGuinness
Further samples of the Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) and Energy Retrofit Technology work are available on the Student Work section of the SABE website.
In September 2011, with the financial support of the Higher Education Authority and Springboard, the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, Bolton Street admitted 20 unemployed architects and architectural technologists to its recently validated Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Analysis + Energy Retrofit (PG Cert DAER), a one year part time programme which aims to develop skills in digital analysis, energy performance and retrofitting of existing buildings using the medium of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and a variety of energy design tools.
To mark the completion of the first year of this innovative programme, the Dublin School of Architecture hosted the first of a series of six NZEB conferences. The running order of the Gullwing Retrofit conference was as follows:
- 15.00 Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Analysis & Energy Retrofit: Cormac Allen DIT
- 15.05 Keynote: Professor Brian Norton, President DIT
- 15.20 Gullwing-RETROFIT: Simon McGuinness DIT
- 15.30 Retrofit 1: Gullwing Design Team A - In situ retrofit
- 15.40 Retrofit 2: Gullwing Design Group B - South orientation
- 15.50 Retrofit 3: Gullwing Design Group C - North orientation
- 16.00 Retrofit 4: Gullwing Design Group D - West orientation
- 16.10 The BIM model
- 16.20 Client reflection: Matt Carroll DCC
- 16.30 Discussion
- 17.00 End
See this ;presentation for an overview of the Gullwing project: Gullwing Overview - Simon McGuinness
Samples of the Building Performance (Energy Efficiency Design) and Energy Retrofit Technology work are available on the Student Work section of the SABE website.
