Tom Johnson House

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the deep retrofit of Tom Johnson House, located in Beggar’s Bush, Dublin 4. Selected as a Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder Project and executed on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW), this refurbishment has set a benchmark for sustainable transformation in public sector buildings.

The project involved a comprehensive upgrade of a 1970s building, with significant enhancements made to its thermal fabric and overall energy performance. The refurbishment improved the Building Energy Rating (BER) from a G rating to an A2 rating, resulting in an 85% reduction in annual energy use and a considerable extension of the building’s useful life. The existing structure was retained—leveraging the embodied energy of the original concrete framework and brick façade—thus minimising the carbon footprint compared to a full demolition and rebuild.

Design & Sustainability:
Internally, the original cellular office layout was transformed into a more open plan arrangement, increasing overall occupancy while a new central floor void was introduced to enhance daylight and natural ventilation. The incorporation of advanced heat pump technology and strict adherence to the OPW’s Green Procurement Policy further mitigated the project’s climate impact. Additionally, all EU regulatory requirements related to building material inputs, waste management, and the reuse and recycling of materials were rigorously applied throughout the project.

Outcome & Impact:
Tom Johnson House now stands as an exemplar of energy efficiency and sustainable retrofit. Formerly occupied by the Labour Relations Commission and the Geological Survey of Ireland, the building has been repurposed to serve as the headquarters for the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC). This state-of-the-art facility demonstrates how existing structures can be modernised to meet current environmental and operational standards while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.

The deep retrofit of Tom Johnson House represents a significant achievement in sustainable public sector development. By harmoniously integrating historical preservation with modern energy efficiency solutions, this project has set a new standard for retrofitting existing buildings, ensuring long-term benefits for both the environment and operational performance.