HIMACS in Nebula was selected to clad the atrium stair balustrades and handrails in the new Garda Síochána HQ in Dublin
Modern, spacious, state-of-the-art and practical, Walter Scott House is the new Garda Síochána headquarters that has opened its doors at Military Road, Dublin 8. A two-year project commissioned in 2020 by the Office of Public Works, the new Garda HQ is occupied by up to 900 Garda personnel, who benefit from its impressive structural and architectural features that include HIMACS in Nebula for the cladding of its central atrium stair balustrades and handrails.
The building is named after Colonel Walter Scott, an Honorary Commissioner of the New York City Police, who presented the Garda Síochána with a $1,000 gold bond 100 years ago. That bond would go on to sponsor the Walter Scott Medal for Valor and is the highest accolade that a member of the Garda Síochána can achieve for acts of bravery. The cutting-edge headquarters will house numerous bureaus and investigation teams and was commissioned by the Office of Public Works.
This new police headquarters was made possible by the collaboration of John Paul Construction, Solid Fabrications and James Latham Solid Surface. HIMACS in Nebula was selected for cladding the internal facing of the extensive system of walkways and stair balustrades over three floors and includes an alcove for the handrail and a top cap.
Marc Beattie, Managing Director of Solid Fabrications comments: ‘We are proud to have worked on this demanding project and we feel that HIMACS was a great solution in terms of workability, durability and also how it compliments this contemporary aesthetic’.
Part of the Aster Collection, HIMACS Nebula T010 is a 12mm thick solid surface material suitable for every indoor use, for commercial, residential and public spaces. Robust, durable, hardwearing and fire resistant, it’s the perfect choice for offices, headquarters, business premises and residential projects alike. It’s also extremely hygienic and resistant to wear and tear, scratches, stains and UV rays while its non-porous surface also makes it extremely quick and easy to clean. The thermoformable properties of HIMACS also allow this material to be moulded into any shape and size. The results achieve a smooth and seamless surface thanks to the absence of visible seams, which also has the benefit of preventing the build up of dirt, bacteria and viruses. This makes HIMACS a Solid Surface material with unbeatable hygienic properties, guaranteed by certifications that comply with LGA and NSF international standard.
Sustainability
HIMACS can be seamlessly joined which means that any offcuts can be reused in other projects. As well as this, the long warranty of 15 years shows that it is an extremely durable product, with a long life-cycle. The six recycled colours available improve on this sustainable ethos, by containing up to 16% of pre-consumer recycled material, which can provide LEED® credits in sustainable designs.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT DESIGN
Project name: Garda HQ
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Designer: Office of Public Works
Fabricator: Solid Fabrications www.solidfabrications.co.uk
HIMACS supplier: James Latham
Construction: John Paul Construction
Material: HIMACS Nebula T010 www.himacs.eu
HIMACS elements: Atrium stair balustrades and handrails
Photos: Marie-Louise Halpenny
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