PROJECT
Innovation Square Apartments, Tallaght
Innovation Square Apartments are a vibrant residential cornerstone to the new civic space that has been created along Cookstown road to the north of Tallaght’s town centre.
The development consists of 133 affordable rental apartments with community spaces at street level and shared garden areas as well as private balconies and terraces for each apartment.
COADY Architects were engaged by South Dublin County Council to design and deliver a residential scheme for the affordable rental market.
This new residential development forms part of a wider masterplan of South Dublin County Council lands that includes a new urban square, innovation hub and school.
The Tallaght District Heating Scheme uses excess heat from a local Data Centre via highly insulated pipes delivering low-carbon heat for space heating and hot water within the apartments.
The scheme delivers sustainable homes in an efficient high quality vibrant architectural response to contribute to rejuvenation of the wider area.
A central podium accommodates car and bicycle parking, an ESB substation and switch room, plant and bins stores on grade with a landscaped communal courtyard above. Ancillary site development works include the provision of final section of the Tallaght Zip / Greenway.
The COADY-led Design team, including JV Tierney Consulting Engineers, CS Consulting Engineers, Mitchell McDermott Quantity Surveyors were appointed by SDCC to deliver Part 8 Planning and ensure the delivery of a high-quality development for Tallaght under a Design-Build contract.
The use of precast architectural wall panels contributed to an expediated construction programme on site as well as advancements in on site quality in finishing, thermal values and air tightness. The brick finished wall panels from first floor to roof level were manufactured off site and delivered with windows installed and ready for internal wall linings to be applied with a high thermal performance. Pre-finished architectural wall panels not only benefitted the construction programme, but also reduced safety risks on site, eliminating the need for scaffolding use and providing secure working areas as the construction progressed to the upper floors.
The repetitive apartment typologies used in the COADY design lent itself to a precast construction allowing a high efficiency in apartment layouts, and enabled the use of pre-manufactured bathroom pods within the apartments and cassette balconies which will be added to the facades later in the construction period.
The construction completed was completed in December 2024.
CATEGORY
Residential / Modern Methods of Construction
CLIENT
South Dublin County Council
SERVICES
Lead Consultancy and Full Architectural Design Service
VALUE
Private
STATUS
Completed December 2024
Project Overview
Award-Winning Excellence: Innovation Square Apartments, Tallaght
Innovation Square Apartments, stands as a vibrant residential cornerstone within Tallaght’s newly developed civic space along Cookstown Road. This pioneering development was recently awarded “Housing Project of the Year – Large” at the Building & Architect of the Year Awards 2025, a testament to its exceptional design and innovative delivery.
Comprising 133 affordable rental homes, Innovation Square Apartments represents Ireland’s first standalone cost rental development by a local authority. This crucial scheme, designed and delivered by COADY Architects in partnership with South Dublin County Council, offers a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, alongside two townhouses, all featuring community spaces at street level, shared garden areas, and private balconies or terraces. Funded by South Dublin County Council with significant support from the Affordable Housing Fund under the “Housing for All” plan, rents are set at a minimum of 25% below local market rates, providing vital affordable long-term tenancies.
This new residential development is a key component of South Dublin County Council’s ambitious masterplan for the wider Innovation Quarter, which includes a new urban square, the Work IQ Innovation Centre, and a new school.
The three blocks, ranging from three to eight stories, are seamlessly connected to the innovative Tallaght District Heating Scheme. This sustainable system harnesses excess heat from a local data centre, delivering low-carbon heating and hot water to the apartments via highly insulated pipes. This commitment to energy efficiency not only ensures comfortable and low-cost living but also makes a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions in the area, aligning with COADY Architects broader sustainability goals.
A central podium provides convenient and secure car and bicycle parking, along with essential services, all thoughtfully integrated beneath a beautifully landscaped communal courtyard. The project also includes the provision of the final section of the Tallaght Zip / Greenway, enhancing local connectivity and green infrastructure.
The successful delivery of this development under a Design-Build contract was a collaborative effort, with the COADY-led Design team – including JV Tierney Consulting Engineers, CS Consulting Engineers, and Mitchell McDermott Quantity Surveyors – appointed by SDCC to oversee the Part 8 Planning. Building contractors JJ Rhatigan were instrumental in its construction.
A hallmark of the construction process was the strategic use of precast architectural wall panels. This advanced modern method of construction significantly expedited the programme and enhanced on-site quality in terms of finishing, thermal values, and airtightness. These brick-finished panels, manufactured off-site with windows pre-installed, streamlined the internal fit-out, providing superior thermal performance. This innovative approach not only accelerated the build but also substantially reduced on-site safety risks by minimizing the need for scaffolding and providing secure working areas as the building progressed to its upper floors.
The repetitive apartment typologies inherent in the COADY design perfectly lent themselves to precast construction, facilitating highly efficient apartment layouts and enabling the seamless integration of pre-manufactured bathroom pods and cassette balconies.
Construction of Innovation Square Apartments reached completion in December 2024 and occupancy will commence in Summer 2025, marking a significant milestone in providing high-quality, sustainable, and affordable housing in Tallaght.
* Approval for use of external images not the property of COADY Architects must sought. Photographer – Michael Conlon Photography
