Shay Cleary Architects

Practice

Established in 1987, Shay Cleary Architects is a design led architectural practice. The office is involved in a wide range of building types for clients which include government agencies, local authorities, schools and colleges, cultural organisations, commercial businesses and private individuals.

The work of the office has the following aims and aspirations;

To provide the highest quality contemporary architecture for all projects.

To respond with innovation and imagination to all project requirements.

To look beyond current client requirements with forward looking solutions that allow for change and development in the future.

To provide an architecture which is responsive to context and culture in a sophisticated manner.

To embrace sustainable technologies as an integral component of any architectural proposal.

To achieve the highest standard of design and construction detailing.

To provide an individually tailored solution for each particular client brief.

The office has many repeat clients and has won numerous awards for excellence in design and construction which reflects our commitment to the production of quality contemporary architecture that answers our clients needs while enhancing and contributing positively to the built environment.

Shay Cleary

Director

B.Arch Hons NUI, Fellow RIAI, MRIBA

Shay has extensive experience in the masterplanning of large scale commercial and mixed use urban developments both in Ireland and internationally, all of which are award winning at both a national and international level.

He has been in private practice for thirty five years. Following graduation with honours from University College Dublin in 1974 he worked in Paris for Marcel Breuer and later for Candilis Josic and Woods before moving to London where he spent some time at the London Borough of Camden Architects Department.

On his return to Dublin in 1977 he commenced private practice along with teaching part time at the School of Architecture at UCD which he continued to do until 1996.

Since 1987 he has been principal and lead designer of Shay Cleary Architects, a highly motivated design focused practice that produces architectural projects in a wide range of areas. The overriding aim of the practice is to produce sophisticated and innovative modern architectural solutions, to fully address our clients needs in a manner appropriate to our culture and context and to incorporate the latest thinking in response to the growing importance of sustainability.

Shay has wide ranging experience and expertise in the commercial office sector and has led the office team on the design of large scale developments in the city centre in the last ten years.

He is the recipient of over 40 national and international awards for the high quality design output of the office.

John Callan

Associate

B.Sc (Arch Sc) (Hons), M.Arch

John is an experienced Associate with both national and international experience in private practice. John completed a Masters of Architecture Degree in the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Aberdeen in 2004. After graduating he joined Denis Byrne Architects in Dublin, working on large residential development in Navan. He subsequently joined Emmet Humphreys Architects in Drogheda working on a mix of commercial and residential projects.

In 2012, he relocated to Canada and commenced employment with Ratio Architecture handling a variety of commercial and institutional projects including the development of a new prototype branch for a financial institution and the renovation and extension of the Provincial Court of BC in Surrey.

John joined Shay Cleary Architects in 2016 where he has been directly involved in a number of high profile commercial office projects in the Dublin Docklands including the landmark EXO Building where he was responsible for external facade, roof and landscape design development and the planning submission for the City Block 9 office development.

He was a key member of the team on a major redevelopment of the Clanwilliam Court office complex for Hibernia REIT in Dublin 2, where he has led the shell and core and external facade design development process for the successful planning submission.

More recently, John has led a team in developing the affordable housing development at Killeens for Wexford County Council using an SCA developed low-rise, high density model of housing. This model has exceeded the brief expectations of the client and will provide much needed affordable homes for the local area.

Karl Tobin

Associate

B.Arch (Hons) MRIAI

Karl is an experienced Associate who has worked with Shay Cleary Architects since 2014. During the course of his studies he worked in the Netherlands with renowned practice Monadnock Architects on projects ranging from domestic to large scale development in addition to a number of international design competitions. He completed the Bachelor of Architecture degree with honours at the Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, in 2013.

After graduation, he submitted a design with a fellow graduate for the 1916 Glasnevin Centenary Chapel Competition, before joining Boyd Cody Architects. He worked on a number of residential and conservation projects, including the renovation and extension of a period dwelling in Monkstown, and the restoration of a listed Victorian Kitchen Garden Cottage at Áras an Uachtaráin.

In 2014, he joined Shay Cleary Architects, and has worked on a wide variety of projects both commercial and residential, from initial concept design through to construction. He was a key member of the team on the development of the Blackpitts Student Housing project in the Liberties area of Dublin, which completed in 2018. The completed scheme was the recipient of the 2019 Student Housing Project of the Year Award from the Irish Building and Design Awards.

He has been extensively involved in the commercial sector as a package design lead for shell and core items on the Marine House redevelopment in Dublin 2, a complex project involving the retention and adaptation of an existing building, stripping it back to frame and adding facade and rooftop extensions. He has led the coordination of the shell and core design with specific responsibility for MEP design integration and resolution.

More recently Karl was engaged as project architect on the Sandford Lodge Residences in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, which has won several international design awards since its completion in 2023.

Process + Capability

Shay Cleary Architects are a medium sized RIAI registered practice with the capacity and technical expertise to design and realize projects of large scale, demanding complexity and high profile. The practice comprises a cohesive office organization comprising architectural, administrative and IT personnel.

The office works exclusively in a Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment and all new projects employ this software in the production of design and production information in collaboration with other stakeholders and consultants. The practice also operates a quality control system and values its function as a management device. An office Quality Assurance manual has been developed and provides clear parameters for staff activities, from inception to site operations and project completion. The practice has adopted the RIAI Guide to Good Practice, which comprises a quality assurance scheme for architects with the aim of maximizing the accuracy of design and detailed specification of all projects.

The practice utilizes National Building Specification (NBS) specification software and has membership of the Construction Information Service, an online source for standards and codes of practice. Our policy is to employ personnel of the highest caliber and our staff are encouraged to attend ongoing CPD courses which are run by the RIAI and our internal team.

BIM (Building Information Modelling)

Shay Cleary Architects have been early adopters of BIM technology and have successfully implemented it over many projects. The office now delivers 100% of its live projects through BIM processes and are engaging in collaborations with industry to test and develop next generation components, management platforms and analytical tools.

We recognize the technical and productivity advantages afforded by Digital Project Delivery and BIM, which allows us to more effectively and accurately, design and document buildings and control the flow of building information efficiently by creating a single accessible source of key information through design, documentation, and construction stages.

We have invested in the software, staff training and management processes to implement Digital Project Delivery. The specific benefits of BIM Level 2 are enhanced collaboration, minimized risk and improved productivity and the collaborative aspect of BIM Level 2 drives efficiency and quality throughout the full life-cycle of a project.

The practice is engaged in the appraisal of Carbon Quantitative software which assists in the measurement of embodied carbon in different constructional systems, with a view to promoting the reduction of embodied carbon to a limit of 500kg C02/m2 as advocated by the Zero Carbon Certification Scheme. Enhanced visualization of projects through the use of augmented reality via individual headsets is also an area of increasing expertise for the practice.

A BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is core to develop and manage digital delivery on a project. Our BIM Execution Plan is developed in alignment with key industry standards namely: BS1192:2007, PAS1192-2:2013 and the CIC BIM Protocol. It will provide a detailed breakdown of how the Employer’s Information Requirements will be met. Roles and responsibilities, work and data segregation, co-ordination/ clash detection, collaboration process (information transfer strategies, common data environment) and BIM specific meetings will be agreed between the Employer and Design Team at the outset.

The utilization of these technologies and adherence to a quality BIM Execution plan ensures the effective production, management and delivery of information and promotes improved coordination, a key factor in reducing risk and safeguarding quality

Model Making

Shay Cleary Architects make extensive use of physical models in addition to digital modeling through our BIM processes. These vary from very early stage massing studies in foam and clay to extensively detailed facade studies in timber, board and plastics for specific building elements and components.

The office has dedicated model making facilities with modern foam cutting machinery and materials to allow the rapid creation of simple study models to test the integration of a building onto a particular site. We have also recently engaged with 3D printing processes in house to test more complex massing studies on emerging projects.

More detailed models are commissioned and produced as appropriate and as a part of the ongoing design process, including large scale internal models of specific spaces.

Visualisation

Shay Cleary Architects have the capacity to produce a wide range of visualization and illustrative material to comprehensively document the design process and convey the look and feel of a scheme to a wide audience. Our visualizations are always tailored to the audience and we pay great attention to generating the intended atmosphere and environment around or within the building to convey a full impression of the proposal in use.

Early stage studies often take the form of hand drawn views and illustrations which are successful in rapidly exploring a number of options for discussion at an early stage of design. These can progress to more detailed versions produced for planning discussions and consultations where a softness of visual image is often preferable to a highly defined and finished computer generated image.

These initial illustrations progress through the development of the BIM model to more detailed computer generated images as a design is refined and further defined. Highly detailed realistic images can subsequently be produced with the collaboration of external visualization artists, a process simplified and made more accurate through the use of our detailed model information.

Awards

The practice has received over forty awards in recognition of its design quality and architectural output.

Awards include two international awards from the Chicago Athenaeum, an International Award from the RIBA and the premier Silver Medal Award from the RIAI for our Alto Vetro tower while our Cork County Hall project was OPUS building of the year in 2008.

Year

2024

2023

2022

2019

2016

2014

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2003

2002

2000

1999

1997

1996

1995

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

Project

The Residences, Sandford Lodge

An Thriantán, Station Road, Kildare

EXO Office Building, Point Square

The Residence, 94 St Stephen's Green

Blackpitts Student Housing

EXO Office Building, Point Square

Office Buildings, City Block 9

Office Building, Point Village

Alto Vetro Residential Tower

Q5 Waltrovka, Prague

Cork County Library Headquarters

Alto Vetro Residential Tower

Cork County Library Headquarters

Civic Offices Complex

Civic Offices

Central Library Headquarters & Cultural Centre

Cork County Hall Redevelopment

Office Building, Dawson Street

Liffey Trust Enterprise Centre Redevelopment

Northern Gateway Competition

Office Building, Dawson Street

Project Arts Centre

New Galleries at IMMA

Cork County Hall Redevelopment

Temple Bar Framework Plan (Group 91)

Arthouse

Blackrock Education Centre

Arthouse

Blackrock Education Centre

National Gallery, Dublin

Agriculture House, Dublin

Walsall Art Gallery

Irish Museum of Modern Art

Temple Bar Framework Plan (Group 91)

Houses at Swan Place

Point Depot (NEC)

Mercer Street Offices

Awarding Authority

Dezeen Awards

Building and Architect of the Year Awards

Brick Awards

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Town Centre Living Housing Competition

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Irish Building and Design Awards

Building and Architect of the Year Awards

Irish Building and Design Awards

Chicago Athenaeum

NAMA / Deloitte

NAMA / Grant Thornton

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Red Group Prague & RIAI

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Chicago Athenaeum

Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Opus

Meath County Council & RIAI

Roscommon County Council

Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council

Opus

An Taisce

The Liffey Trust

Ballymun regeneration

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI)

Cork County Council & RIAI

Fundació Mies Van Der Rohe Barcelona

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI)

National Gallery of Ireland

Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI)

Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI)

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Temple Bar Properties

Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI)

Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI)

Award Type

Winner - Housing Project of the Year

Winner - Housing Project of the Year (Large)

Winner - Worldwide Category

Highly Commended - Living: Low-Rise Medium Density

First Place - Kildare

Commended - Workplace and Fit-Out Category

Winner - Commercial / Office Project of the Year

Winner - Conservation Award Single Building (Large)

Student Accommodation Project of the Year

International Architecture Award

Competition Winner

RIAI Silver Medal for Housing

Competition Joint Winner

Public Building Commendation

International Architecture Award

International Award

Building of the Year 2009

Competition Finalist

Building of the Year 2007

Urban Infill Award

Competition Winner

Regional Award

Award

Special Mention

Competition Winner

Shortlist

Regional Award

Special Mention

Competition Finalist

Special Mention

Competition Finalist

Award

Regional Award

Competition Winner

Medal for Housing Special Mention

Downes Medal

Award

Selected Clients

A C Forde & Co

AMP Capital

Ballymore

Ballymun Regeneration Ltd.

BAM Property Ltd.

BNP Paribas

Bruce Shaw

Campion Properties

Convention Centre Dublin

Cork County Council

Creedon Group Ltd

Davy Group

Davy Hickey Properties

Deloitte

Department of Education and Skills

Dublin City Council

Dublin City University

DDDA

Dun Laoghaire IADT

Eircom

Ellier Developments Ltd.

GEM Group

Grant Thornton

Green Property

Hardwicke

Hibernia REIT

Hollybrook UK

Horse Racing Ireland

IDA Ireland

The Iveagh Trust

Kendlebell Midwest Ltd.

Kennedy Wilson

KPMG

Leopardstown Racecourse

Liffey Trust

Mountbrook Homes Ltd.

NAMA

Office of Public Works

P.Elliott & Company

Pierse Group

Point Depot N.E.C.

Port of Cork Company

Project Arts Centre

PWC

Red Group, Prague

Ronan Group Real Estate

Temple Bar Properties

The Liffey Trust

Touchstone Healthcare Group

Treasury Holdings Ireland

University College Dublin

Walls Construction

Winterbrook Homes

WK Nowlan

Collaborators

Since 1987:

Cormac Allen

Pia Becker

Janine Bourke

Dermot Boyd

Lennart Breternitz

Noreile Breen

Karen Brownley

Carlus Buckley

Eva Byrne

John Callan

Peter Carroll

Andrew Clancy

Peter Cody

Philip Comerford

Ronan Costelloe

Aoife Cox

Martin Cox

Kathleen Creed

Angus Denvir

John Dobbin

Stephen Doherty

Marcus Donaghy

Ian Donnelly

John Dorman

Fergal Doyle

Mark Elliott

Camille Escano

Jennifer Fay

Shane Fitzpatrick

Michael Frain

Sam Gaine

Jonathan Garvey

Ronan Halpenny

Mark Halpin

Gary Hamilton

Paul Healy

Eoin Healy

Anne Henry

Joe Hogan

Dáire Kelly

Hugh Kelly

Justin Kelly

Des Kennedy

Ciara Keohane

Erica Ei Ei Khaing

David King-Smith

Steve Larkin

Tom Larkin

Markus Lassan

Caroline Lawlor

Colin Markey

Nicola Masterson

Dermot McCabe

Tiernan McCarthy

Brian McClean

Eavan Meagher

Jesmond Meli

Mark Monaghan

Colm Moore

Catherine Moran

Aisling Murray

Cornelia Murphy

Stephen Musiol

Esmonde O'Briain

John O'Callaghan

Aoife O'Donnell

Eilis O'Donnell

Cormac O'Droma

Seán Antóin Ó Muiri

Antoinette O'Neill

Melanie O'Reilly

Eoghan O'Shea

Tim O'Sullivan

Adam Peavoy

Sinead Pickett

Natasha Premjee

Suzannah Potts

Declan Quirke

Niamh Redmond

Kate Rhatigan

Dominic Stevens

Birgit Sunkel

Peter Tansey

Seamus Thornton

Karl Tobin

Des Twomey

Simon Walker

Andrew Walsh

Brian Ward

Lesley-Anne Whelan

Elizabeth Wheeler

Sonia Webber

Kevin Woods