Site Visit- Mass Timber in Practice

About the Event

To mark World Circular Economy Day, the Irish Green Building Council invites you to step inside two innovative demonstrator buildings — a Mass Engineered Timber (MET) Creche and Community Centre — designed and delivered with circular economy principles at their core.

This exclusive site visit offers a rare opportunity to explore how mass timber can help reduce embodied carbon, prioritise bio-based materials, and rethink traditional construction approaches. Through a guided walkthrough, participants will gain first-hand insight into the project journey, from early design decisions and material selection to construction challenges and solutions.

You will see how strategies such as design for disassembly, waste reduction, and nature-based solutions have been applied in practice, demonstrating how mass timber can contribute to a more sustainable and circular built environment.

Also, the Winner of Green Awards 2026 under the category The Green Transformation Award

Learn More: https://dres.ie/landmark-e3-2-million-net-zero-carbon-project-at-altidore-gardens-commences/

This Site- Visit is part of the Transition to a Circular Economy project funded by the Community Foundation Ireland. This project aims to support industry in implementing circular economy strategies at the design stage by developing practical, industry-ready guidance and template for circular construction. The guidance will help design teams, home builders and developers embed circular principles such as design for disassembly, adaptability and flexibility, material reuse, and resource efficiency into construction projects. It will provide clear direction, tools, and case studies to overcome common barriers and enable the delivery of buildings that are more resilient, low-waste, and aligned with circular economy objectives.

Why Attend

Participants will:

• Explore real mass timber demonstrator buildings on site
• Understand how circular economy principles were applied from design to delivery
• Learn practical lessons on material selection, construction challenges, and solutions
• Gain inspiration and actionable insights for applying mass timber and circular strategies in future projects

Who Should Attend

This site visit is open to:

• Architects, designers, and engineers
• Sustainability consultants and construction professionals
• Policymakers and built environment specialists
• Students and researchers interested in sustainable construction and circularity

Speaker / Guide

Sombi Stephen
Sustainability Design Assistant, D/RES Properties

Sombi is a sustainable construction specialist with expertise in Life Cycle Assessment, Home Performance Index, material optioneering, and adaptive reuse. His work focuses on minimising environmental impact while delivering practical, future-ready building solutions.

Event Details

📅 Date: 10 April 2026
⏰ Time: 10:30 – 12:00
📍 Location: Altidore Gardens, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
👥 Capacity: Limited to 30 participants

Important Information

As this is an active site visit, all attendees must bring appropriate PPE, including:

• High-visibility vest
• Hard hat
• Safety boots

How to Register

Places are limited and advance registration is required.