Practice

At Quinn Architects our approach to architecture is both detail orientated and collaborative. As our client you are involved and kept up to date throughout all stages of your project. Your needs as well as construction industry trends are considered to help us achieve high quality architectural design and provide an excellent architectural service from early design conception through to completion. Our studio team ensure that the design and technical solutions evolve through research, exploration, analysis, understanding and collaboration with Client and Design Team to deliver great design solutions.

Our approach to Interior design is to create a connection with the context through appropriate consideration of space, colour, tones, textures, materials, furniture, lighting and architectural graphics to enhance the interior environment. In order to achieve this we pay particular attention to the detail. Everything from the skirting boards, architraves, door panels, door handles to the type of light switch are carefully considered to ensure that the space is transformed and full of life. Our interior design work is inspired by nature, art and the world around us and our goal is to inspire our Clients with the completed project.

With extensive experience in fit-out projects, we pride ourselves in the methodical and logical design approach we take in transforming existing spaces to maximise their potential. We offer full fit-out services from help defining the brief, initial feasibility and compliance reports, re-organisation of internal layouts to meet clients’ needs through to the finer details of interior design.

We have considerable expertise in master planning and urban design in a wide range of scales. This service provides a foundation for smart future development through a collaborative architectural approach considering the wider and longer-term design & development opportunities. We pride ourselves in exploring various options which may not be obvious from the outset to ensure the best solution is proposed to our clients following detailed analysis of all elements which inform & influence future development.

We offer a feasibility study service for a wide range of projects from one-off housing projects through to large scale campus projects with a high level of experienced assessment to identify the potential of a site. This study will provide a considered evaluation of all the key aspects of a potential project. These include analysis of site potential, design opportunities, planning opportunities and associated risks, timescales and the likely building costs of the proposed works. We recognise that the study is a means to an end, and we aim to produce a document that is a useful tool to our clients, one to guide you through the next stages of your project.

Having gained vast experience of the planning process with a large range of local authorities, we are confident in the preparation and lodgement of planning applications to meet both the project brief and align with local design guidelines as set out in the relevant Development & Local Area Plans.  We recognise that a planning application requires more than a good design proposal with attention to detail, early and clear communication with the local authority and a strong knowledge of planning legislation all helping to make this process as smooth and efficient as possible.  We provide clarity, expertise and support to our clients throughout all planning stages including the appeals process should this be required.

Should your project require a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) and Disability Access Certificate (DAC), we can prepare and lodge all relevant drawings and documentation to the local authority to obtain such certification. Our team is qualified and experienced in delivering this service which will identify all fire safety and disability access requirements to comply with the latest Building Regulations while seamlessly integrating these into a strong architectural design.

Project Manager is a role we regularly and confidently provide for projects in our office. We have a good reputation for taking a collaborative approach at both design and construction stages.  We take pride in our leadership and management skills of guide both Design Team and appointed Contractors through a co-ordinated and efficient design and delivery process for our Clients.

Quinn Architects places sustainable, energy-efficient design at the heart of every project, structured around the principles of ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 50001 (Energy Management). From concept stage we apply a fabric-first approach — optimising orientation, insulation, airtightness and daylighting — to reduce energy demand before mechanical systems are ever considered, and we design to NZEB and Part L standards as a matter of course.

We use recognised carbon-assessment tools to reduce embodied carbon at material-selection stage, and prepare Whole Life Cost Analyses so Clients understand the running, maintenance and disposal costs behind every design decision. Our Building Management Systems expertise, and extensive retrofit experience — including sensitive energy upgrades to Protected Structures — extend this approach to existing buildings, helping Clients meet regulatory requirements while future-proofing against tightening energy standards.

Under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations, clients must appoint a competent person as Assigned Certifier to inspect the works, co-ordinate the certification activity of Ancillary Certifiers, and certify compliance with the Building Regulations on completion. As registered architects, Quinn Architects can provide this role as part of our service.

We prepare the Inspection Plan at commencement, review Contractors’ Technical Submittals for compliance, and schedule inspections at each stage of construction, resolving any non-compliant works with the Contractor as they arise. Our digital site-inspection system lets us log issues, drawings and photographic evidence directly to a live Inspection Plan, so Contractors can record remedial action for our review and sign-off in real time.

On completion, we submit the signed Certificate of Compliance on Completion, together with the final Inspection Plan, to the Building Control Management System (BCMS) — delivering a fully compliant, well-documented project for our Clients.

Quinn Architects is committed to safeguarding the health, safety and welfare of our employees, Clients, Contractors and the public, in accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. Our management approach follows the framework of ISO 45001:2018, reviewed at least annually alongside our Safety Statement.

Health & Safety is embedded at every project stage. We work closely with the Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) and Construction Stage (PSCS), carrying out Design Risk Assessments at each decision point to design out risk from the outset. We evaluate Contractor H&S competence at tender stage, treat H&S as a standing item at Site Meetings through construction, and manage a structured Safety File from Preliminary Plan through to handover.

This is reinforced by dedicated third-party H&S training for all staff, alongside our RIAI CPD requirements, and a governance cycle of regular practice reviews that keeps our procedures current.

Quinn Architects offers specialist conservation-led design services for protected structures, architectural heritage and buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas. Two members of our team — Cathal Quinn and Darren Feldon — hold RIAI Accreditation in Conservation at Grade 3, awarded under the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s Conservation Accreditation System, which recognises architects who have demonstrated the specialist skills, knowledge and experience required to work sensitively with historic fabric.

Our conservation work is grounded in a thorough understanding of building history, traditional construction and materials, and the statutory framework governing protected structures, allowing us to develop interventions that respect a building’s special character while meeting our Clients’ functional, regulatory and sustainability requirements. From initial condition surveys and heritage impact assessments through to detailed conservation-grade specification and on-site supervision, we bring a rigorous, evidence-based approach to every project.

This accredited expertise gives Clients confidence that their conservation projects are managed to the standards expected by planning and conservation authorities.

 Quinn Architects’ core production workflow is built around Autodesk Revit, and our BIM procedures have been independently audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) for compliance with IS EN ISO 19650-2:2018, the international standard for information management using building information modelling.

On every BIM-enabled commission we establish a cloud-hosted Common Data Environment, managed by a dedicated BIM Coordinator, giving all Design Team consultants access in line with the project’s Exchange Information Requirements. A single, accurate 3D model underpins our design and construction documentation, supporting 3D views, walkthroughs and visualisations, and enabling clash detection using Navisworks so conflicts are resolved before construction begins.

We collaborate seamlessly across all modelling platforms to deliver projects to a Level 2 BIM-equivalent standard aligned with ISO 19650, including co-ordinated design and as-built models. Ongoing staff training keeps our BIM capability at the leading edge.