PORTFOLIOIAN MCSWEENEY M.ARCH

© Ian McSweeney 2016

Cover page: The Address Sky Views construction site at

Sheikh Zayed Road Junction One

INTRODUCTIONArchitecture is not sculpture; it’s about people. From the moment of conception, to demolitionand beyond; architecture is a vehicle for dreams, aspirations and memories. Architecture is also an asset and logo: an embodiment of values to be communiccommunicated, shared or sold.

These fundamentals have guided my practice, from private house-extension to sky-scraper and mega-mall. I am a UK trained professional architect with the deepest respect for client and end-user, who revels in the challenges and unexpected opportunities of collaborative tteamwork.

CONTENTS

MENA REGION SELECTED WORKS 2011-2016:

THE ADDRESS SKY VIEWS, DUBAI

ABU DHABI SCIENCE CENTRE, MASDAR CITY

THE ADDRESS BOULEVARD HOTEL, DUBAI

AL ZORAH HOTEL RESORT, AJMAN ABU DHABI CORNICHE

TAT MALL, TEHRAN

UK SELECTED WORKS 2000-2011:

TOM MORRIS BUILDING, ST ANDREWS

CLYDEVIEW ACADEMY, GREENOCK

LAUDER SCHOOL, SCOTTISH BORDERS

QUEEN’S CENTRE, HULL

MENA REGION

THE ADDRESSSKY VIEWSThe Address Sky Views is a 5-star hotel, and serviced-apartment twin tower for Emaar Developments on aprime gateway plot of Downtown Dubai.

The concept, prepared by SOM’s Chicago office,was intended to compliment and enhance thewas intended to compliment and enhance theexisting iconic architecture of the nearby Burj Khalifa and to become a landmark developmentin its own right,

On NORR’s acquisition of the project at SchematicDesign stage, I led coordination of all interioraspects of the building; including architecture, structustructure, mechanical and electrical engineering, to interior design, lighting, signage, kitchens and allother specialist input.

This role required continuous close-working and management of the client team, external consultants and in-house resource to develop and deliver diverse packages from client briefing up to issue ofconstruction informconstruction information, and onward sitesupervision.

ABU DHABISCIENCE CENTREArchitecture is not sculpture; it’s about people. From the moment of conception through to theswing of the wrecking ball and beyond; architecture is a vehicle for dreams, aspirations and memoriesand memories. Architecture is also an asset and logo: an embodiment of values to be communicated, shared or sold.

These fundamentals have guided my practice across two continents, from private house-extension to sky-scraper and mega-mall.

I am a professional architect with the deepestrrespect for client and end-user, who revels in the challenges and unexpected opportunities of collaborative teamwork.

ABU DHABISCIENCE CENTREThe Abu Dhabi Science Centre was conceived as agovernment initiative to nurture science andtechnology within future generations. I wascommissioned to work closely with exhibition designers Nodesigners Northern Light, to conceive an architectural concept from the inside-out: driven by visitor-experience and operational functionality.

The resulting linear massing provided a centralatrium, from which all gallery spaces could be viewedand accessed along the length of one side. Theatriumwas opposingly flanked by visitor support facilities,such as classfacilities,such as classrooms, offices and washrooms. Lastly, technical support facilities such as workshops and plant spaces were located beyond the galleries, with direct access to the service road.

This linear architectural concept equally respondedto the phased development of the Masdar Masterplan,by which the visitor approach was anticipanticipated to flip direction over time. Masdar’ssustainable frameworkalso provided the opportunity to employ enhanced environmental measures, most particularly to reduce heat-gain and water consumption.

THE ADDRESSBOULEVARDAt 370m tall, the Address Boulevard Hotel became NORR’s first major commision within Dubai following the economic downturn. The concept design, prepared by Atkins had sat on the shelf for a numberoof years, and needed review and re-validationagainst current regulations and client requirements.

My remit was to look at the basement and podium levels to maximise operational efficiency and ensure regularoty compliance. This role was then maintianedto complete successful coordination of podium level architecture, engineering and landscaping.

WWeekly client meetings were maintianed to developdesigns as required, with regular high-qualitymilestone-presentations submitted to ensure relvantclient approvals.

LUX* HOTELAL ZORAHThe LUX* Hotel Al Zorah is a 5-star luxury beach-resort project in the emirate of Ajman, designed by leading hospitality architect Jean-Michel Gathy.

My involvement began with a review of concept informinformation, and close-working with the conceptarchitect to ensure all necessary design information was in good order prior to handover to NORR. This resulted in significant re-working of specific areas to ensure code-compliance, and necessary coordination with engineering and specialist consultant input (ie. kitchen design and lighting).

FFurther to this I led coordination of various tendersubmission packages for architecture, engineeringand specialist consultant disciplines.

ABU DHABI CORNICHENorr were invited to submit a design study for theCrown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for an under-utilized (potentially awkward) plot nestled behind the main Corniche frontage.

While the While the existing affection plan suggested aheight limitation of only eight storeys, adjacent plots had already provided precedence to significantly exceed this.

I therefore undertook a two week exercise to exploreand present a ‘maximum-buildout’ option, compliant with all relevant parking ratios, space and technicalstandastandards. This was driven through first maximizing efficiency of the central services core, and maximizing parking efficiency within the basements and podium.

The tower itself was modeled to maximise daylight, views and balcony space above surrounding buildings, elevated above a podium level sky-lobbyand amenities deck.

TAT MALLOn winning the TAT Mall project in Tehran, NORR’sDubai office quickly enlisted the help of UK colleagues to help deliver what was recognized to bea project of unprecedented scale for the company, interms of size, complexity and fast-track delivery.

TThe earliest strategic moves were to establish an optimal concrete frame to maximize efficiency inboth design and construction stages. This led to the adoption of a regular 9m grid frame. An inverted ground-bearing waffle-slab then enabled earliest site-start, and maximum design flexibility in terms oflift-pit, escalator and drainage locations.

As pAs project Job-Captain, I lead the coordination ofconcept architecture with engineering. I was able to established a regularized distribution of service-cores throughout the project; ensuring the most efficient distribution of retail-goods and services throughout the building. This exercise was completed in the coordination of main loading-dock and MEP plant aand MEP plant areas, along with simplified basement-level distribution strategies.

UK EXPERIENCE

THE MORRISBUILDINGThe £2m Morris Building was conceived to provide additional office and storage facilities for the St Andrews Links Trust, within the historical, environmentally and aesthetically sensitive ‘home ofgolfgolf’.

I was appointed as Project Architect to lead the full design and coordination of packages up to and including site-supervision to completion.

Though relatively simple in terms of brief and plan,the project generated numerous challenges, including significant architectural re-design during the construction phasethe construction phase, due to late specialist-contractor engineering input.

The Morris Building, was awarded the Dundee Institute of Architects’ Best Public / Commercial Building Project Award for 2013.

CLYDEVIEWACADEMYDelivered by the Education for Inverclyde (E4I) consortium, Clydeview Academy became one of the last schools to be delivered in Scotland under PFI funding.

As As Project Architect from concept through to completion, this project formed the basis of my RIBA part III thesis, exploring the limitations and opportunities available under the much malignedprocurement route.

Through active encouragement of user involvement, embracing value-engineering as an opportunity toenhance designenhance design, and recognising the long-term cost-benefits of capital investment, I believe the designteam were able to significantly improve outcomes to achieve a high-standard of delivery.

LAUDERPRIMARYWorking with the company’s design director, I assumed responsibility for Lauder, as one of fournew-build primary schools within the Borders Primary School bid.

FFollowing successful submission and client presentation, I worked directly with the schools commissioning team to complete detailed design, and secure Planning and Building Standards approval.

Particular focus was placed on the outdoor-environment, where individual classrooms led didirectly out onto external teaching areas, and spaces between class-blocks create enclosed communal breakout spaces. The built form as a whole was curved to embrace a central lawn area, with a furtheradventure-trail within woodland beyond.

A film entitled “Family of Schools” was commissioned by Architecture and Design Scotland, and the pprojects went on to win Edinburgh Architecture Association "Building of the Year" 2010, the Scottish Design Awards "Best Educational Project" 2011, and gained high-commendation at the BCSE Best of BritishSchool Awards 2011.

QUEEN’S CENTREFOR ONCOLOGYThis RIBA Award winning facility provides a new Regional Cancer Centre on one site at Castle Hill Hospital, Hull. The extensive facility (comprising six linear accelerators, Outpatient and Day HospitalDay Hospital, 100 beds in 4 wards and Pathology, Pharmacy and Medical Physics unit) could have easily taken on a ‘traditional’ institutional form - with long ,dark corridors and window-less rooms,

Luckily, this client recognised the opportunity and value of creating a strong healing-enviroment, with extensive daylight, views to rural surroundings, and friendlfriendly, welcoming patient environments.

Where the entrance building soon became the village hall, wards resembled residential cottages (opening onto terraced courtyard gardens), and the link to the main hospital facility became a walk in the woods.

THANK YOU