Welcome to HausBlog, TrinityHaus’ new research blog!
The built environment greatly affects sustainability, climate change, well-being, health, and inclusion. These matters are deeply embedded and connected within our buildings, neighbourhoods, towns and cities and they require integrated and people-centred research and design solutions. TrinityHaus, a Trinity College Research Centre located in the School of Engineering, was established in 2008, through a very generous benefaction by Bernard McNamara which provided seed funding for the research centre, including the institution of the Michael McNamara Chair of Construction Innovation and Sustainability, named in honour of Bernard’s father.
TrinityHaus is largely research-driven by sustainability issues in society at large, with many external stakeholders playing an active part in the research projects – in that way TrinityHaus is truly outward facing.
Coming out of the period of isolation which the COVID-19 pandemic imposed on both research students and staff, it is evident that the unique research experience that is the essence of being a researcher in TrinityHaus has been restored.
TrinityHaus could not be better placed to provide the research environment to address the enormous sustainability challenges humankind faces, as supported by our four research pillars:
Healthy and inclusive environments involve the age-attuned, people-centred built environment including soil, water, air and healthy materials. For example, the work is supporting Tallaght University Hospital’s Integrated Care for Older Persons, and is considering the impact of NO2 on health with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups and the indoor air-quality in A-rated houses (the AMBER project).
The climate action and sustainability pillar includes research on low or zero carbon energy systems (including solar and wind energy), sustainable materials and buildings and the circular economy. Examples include research on plasmonic enhancement and directionality of emission of advanced luminescent solar devices (the PEDAL project)and investigating advanced low carbon cement alternatives in precast modular concrete buildings .
Construction innovation aims toenhance the sustainability of the construction industry through innovation, principally through the multiphase use of materials in low carbon concrete, including supplementary cementitious materials concrete sandwich panels for retrofitting in the precast industryand the immersion of Building Information Modelling (BIM) into construction practice.
And the co-creation and engagement pillar brings the voice, needs and preferences of the community to the heart of the design process, with key issues, challenges and opportunities for engaging older persons in the co-creation of standards and guidelines for the built environment. It also includes, for example, the indoor air environment and energy demands in Ireland’s cathedrals and churches.
HausBlog provides a venue where TrinityHaus researchers and their numerous multi-disciplinary collaborators can come together to discuss issues relating to sustainability and the four research pillars. Join the discourse.
Professor Roger West, PhD CEng FIEI FICT FTCD
Director of TrinityHaus
Haus Blog 