National University of Ireland Galway, Science Research Building

The project involved the construction of a new 3-storey, 8000m² Science Research Building on a live NUIG campus. The ground, first and second floors accommodate laboratory facilities with vibration sensitive equipment and associated support space (incorporating self-contained cold rooms), open plan and cellular office space, seminar room, computer room, meeting rooms, communal informal meeting/learning areas and toilet areas. The second floor accommodates a Chem/Bio lab as well as Bio-resource facilities with specific pathogen free areas for isolation purposes. Ancillary storage areas, plant areas and shower facilities shall also be located at ground floor level. The structure consists of a flat slab designed to meet strict vibration requirements.

The Civils design for the project included a sustainable (SUDS) design including: attenuation storage & flow control, permeable pavement and filtration through the granular base of the specified permeable pavements.  The Civil Works also included diversion of live services including water mains, power cables and medical gases.

Also GGBS was used throughout in the concrete mix, thereby significantly reducing the CO2 volume per tonne of concrete.

Full, sustainable (SUDS) design was incorporated including: Rainwater Harvesting, attenuation storage and flow control, attenuation through the granular base of the specified permeable pavements, filtration through the granular medium incorporated into the attenuation storage device.

BMCE provided full Civil / Structural Engineering Services in the context of a Design and Build Contract, including preparation of Civil and Structural scheme proposals at pre-tender stage, structural appraisals and condition schedules, design of structural and civil engineering elements of the project, preparation of the planning package, monitoring works on site. The works were carried out according to the rules of the profession and properly completed.