Allergen / INAMED Medical Research & Distribution Facility, Arklow

This project involved the design and construction of an extension to an existing medical research building with associated distribution facility in Arklow, Co. Wicklow for Allman Equities Ltd.

In addition to be being compliant with relevant Irish Codes and Building Regulations, there was a requirement for the new facility to meet the Factory Mutual Insurance Standards.

The existing levels on the site dictated a split level facility to avoid costly removal of soil across the development.  The final requirement was that the extension could be separated from the existing facility should it ever prove necessary to operate the buildings as separate entities.  Based on a review of the brief and a tight programme requested by the client, it was considered that a steel frame with composite decking would be the most cost beneficial solution.  The project included multiple training rooms and laboratories constructed to clean room standards as this was a requirement for the research wing of the development.

A number of rooms were requested to have long clear spans due to the proposed research functions and servicing requirements of  the machinery, with no loss of overall head-height.  This was achieved by the use of cellular steel beams in these zones.  By working closely with the steelwork fabricator, Leonard Engineering Ltd., the steel structure was designed and fabricated to the tightest tolerances.  In addition, Roughan & O’Donovan engaged with the specialist cladding and staircase manufacturers at an early stage in the project to ensure full coordination between their requirements and the overall structure.  This increased the programme savings achieved by the use of off-site construction methods.