Creative use of envelope technologies contributes to lower energy use, lower running costs and reduces carbon footprint. With good design these combine to provide improved environmental comfort for building users and commercial value is increased. Phoenix House, Dublin, an office building refurbished to provide accommodation for Trinity College, Dublin University, incorporates these
features.

The renovated building provides facilities for post graduate research, student services and accommodation for Clinical Speech and Deaf Studies
Departments. The front façade was designed to reduce energy demand and lower running costs. Natural ventilation was a brief requirement and required the incorporation of acoustic baffles within the façade to control the noise from the adjacent busy street.