Author: Myles Buchanan from Wicklow People

A landmark €3.2 million project in Newtownmountkennedy is set to deliver Ireland’s first public buildings constructed to Net Zero Carbon standards.

Developer D/RES has reached a key milestone at Altidore Gardens, where a new community centre and crèche are being built primarily from responsibly sourced, mass-engineered timber — a material that reduces embodied carbon while improving efficiency compared to steel and concrete.

When complete, the facilities will provide vital services for the growing Wicklow town. The community centre will be handed over to Wicklow County Council for public use, while the crèche will help meet local demand for childcare.

The project has been developed in partnership with the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC), Construct Innovate, the Timber in Construction Steering Group and the University of Galway, reflecting a collaborative approach to sustainable construction.

D/RES CEO Patrick Durkan said the development marks a turning point in how Ireland can deliver public infrastructure.

“This milestone isn’t just a first for D/RES; it’s a national first for privately developed public buildings,” he said. “It clearly demonstrates that Net Zero Carbon principles are achievable and should be the standard for Ireland’s future.”

At a topping-out ceremony on Friday, government and academic representatives toured the site to see the timber-based construction up close. Among them was Tánaiste Simon Harris, who described the project as “a model for how Ireland can build for the future” and praised its contribution to both housing and public services in Wicklow.

The new facilities add to D/RES’s wider activity in the county, which includes major housing schemes in Newtownmountkennedy and Rathnew.

According to Brett Chrystal, D/RES’s head of sustainable design, the project demonstrates how innovation in materials and design can support Ireland’s climate goals while delivering high-quality community infrastructure.