DUBLIN - November 1, 2010 - Rebuilding Ireland Conference 2 "Where The Opportunites Are"

Supported by the industry bodies – the Construction Industry Federation and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland - and organised by Architecture Ireland and Construct Ireland, the Rebuilding Ireland Conference returns to Plan Expo Green at the Convention Centre Dublin on 2 and 3 November with a new theme: 'Where The Opportunities Are'.

Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Construction Experts will join forces and develop innovative solutions to tackle the big issues of energy retrofitting and the legacy of incomplete building stock.

These topics will be explored in an interdisciplinary Workshop Day (2 November), which will draw on exhibitors at Plan Expo Green itself as a resource of the most innovative green building products, materials and construction technology available. Workshops themes – such as the retrofitting of a typical primary school building into a more energy efficient and comfortable learning environment – are being devised by a Steering Group that represents some of Ireland’s leaders in green design and construction.

The Conference Day (3 November) will be dedicated to the best national and international practice in retrofitting and new built sustainable design. In partnership with the Goethe Institute Dublin, Graft Architects have been confirmed as keynote speakers, offering an international perspective on zero energy design. Established by three young German architects in Los Angeles in 1998, the practice has come to international acclaim through their emphasis on sustainability, innovation and interdisciplinary practice, such as their ‘shotgun’ houses, commissioned by actor Brad Pitt for rebuilding New Orleans. The studio has offices in Berlin and Beijing and is currently working on zero-energy houses for Bird Island, Malaysia.

The Conference programme is being designed by a Steering Group which includes: Vivienne Brophy, Director of the UCD Energy Research Group; Jeff Colley, Editor, Construct Ireland; Chris Hughes, Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland; Professor J Owen Lewis, Chief Executive SEAI; Gerry Murphy, Plan Expo Green; Dr Sandra O’Connell, Editor, Architecture Ireland (Chair); Ciaran O’Connor, Assistant Principal Architect, OPW; and Tomás O’Leary, MosArt; Martin Wheelan, CIF.