UCC Enterprise Centre Energy Upgrade, Cork

Project Description

The retrofit of the 2915 sq.m took place under the Energy Efficient and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Program (EEDPP) umbrella over the 2story mixed use building. Originally constructed in 1980 as an industrial center for small to medium-sized enterprises, the building was acquired by UCC in 1998 and has housed the School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (BEES) and Applied Psychology since 2004.

The retrofit included significant improvements to the building’s fabric. Installing an insulated render system over the existing brickwork, replacing single-glazed windows with double-glazed, thermally broken units with solar protection, and applying spray foam insulation to the roof. Additional site work will involve preparing wells for a ground source heat pump and constructing a new plant room to replace the current boiler room, which is structurally deficient. Internal upgrades to laboratories, classrooms and staff areas.  These upgrades aim to enhance thermal performance, reduce air leakages, and ensure compliance with current building regulations.