Project Overview
Rhenus Parkmore 5 is a modern BREEAM Excellent industrial warehouse and logistics facility located within Parkmore Business & Technology Park, Galway. Providing more than 10,900 m² of warehouse and ancillary office accommodation, the development was designed to support the continued expansion of logistics operations while delivering outstanding environmental performance.
Appointed as the project’s BREEAM Assessor, Lawler Sustainability worked alongside the wider design team from concept through to completion, providing sustainability consultancy, energy modelling and certification support. The result was a fully electric building that achieved BREEAM Excellent certification at both Design Stage and Post-Construction Stage, alongside significant improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation and occupant wellbeing.
The Challenge
Industrial and logistics developments are increasingly expected to reduce operational carbon emissions while maintaining the flexibility, resilience and efficiency required by modern occupiers.
For Rhenus Parkmore 5, the ambition extended beyond achieving a BREEAM rating. The objective was to create a future-ready warehouse that combined operational performance with sustainable building design, ensuring environmental considerations influenced every stage of the project rather than being treated as a standalone certification exercise.
Key objectives included:
- Achieving BREEAM Excellent certification
- Delivering a fully electric building
- Reducing operational energy demand and carbon emissions
- Improving water efficiency
- Enhancing occupant wellbeing
- Embedding sustainable design principles from concept through to completion
Early collaboration between the client, design team and sustainability consultants was essential to achieving these outcomes.
Our Role
Lawler provided an integrated service through both Lawler Sustainability and Lawler Consulting, allowing sustainability objectives and building services design to be developed together throughout the project lifecycle.
Lawler Sustainability
As the project’s BREEAM Assessor, our Sustainability team managed the certification process from concept design through to final certification. Our services included:
- BREEAM Assessment
- BREEAM Energy Modelling
- Part L Compliance
- BER Assessments
- Daylight Modelling
- Thermal Comfort Analysis
- Low Carbon Design Assessment
These specialist assessments helped optimise building performance while demonstrating compliance with both regulatory and certification requirements.
Lawler Consulting
Our Building Services Engineering team was responsible for the complete mechanical and electrical design together with commissioning support throughout construction and handover.
The building was designed as a fully electric facility, incorporating high-efficiency VRV heat pumps, intelligent lighting controls, comprehensive energy monitoring, rooftop photovoltaic generation and efficient water management systems. Together, these measures contributed significantly to the project’s environmental performance and successful BREEAM certification.
Delivering Sustainable Performance
Sustainability was integrated into every aspect of the development, helping reduce environmental impact while creating a high-quality workplace for future occupants.
The building achieves a 50% reduction in primary energy consumption compared with minimum standards through a combination of passive design, efficient building services and renewable energy generation. A rooftop photovoltaic array generates approximately 76,000 kWh of renewable electricity each year, helping reduce operational carbon emissions and long-term energy costs.
Water efficiency formed another key part of the strategy. Low-flow sanitaryware, waterless urinals, smart metering and automated leak detection systems contribute to a 52% reduction in operational water consumption, while supporting efficient long-term building management.
Occupant wellbeing was also prioritised through extensive daylight modelling, thermal comfort analysis, improved indoor air quality and the specification of low-VOC materials, creating healthier and more comfortable working environments.
The project also incorporated sustainable transport measures, responsible material selection and Life Cycle Assessment to reduce embodied environmental impacts. During construction, more than 90% of construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfill through effective resource management practices.
Project Results
Rhenus Parkmore 5 demonstrates how early sustainability input and close collaboration across the project team can deliver measurable environmental performance without compromising the operational requirements of a modern industrial warehouse.
The completed development achieved:
- BREEAM Excellent (Design Stage & Post Construction)
- 50% reduction in primary energy consumption
- 52% reduction in operational water use
- Fully electric building
- A2 BER
- 76,126 kWh annual renewable electricity generation
- Enhanced occupant wellbeing through daylight optimisation, thermal comfort analysis and improved indoor environmental quality
Planning a BREEAM project?
Whether you’re at concept stage, preparing a planning application or delivering a project on site, early sustainability advice can help reduce project risk, improve building performance and support successful certification.
Click the button below to speak to Lisa Martin, Head of Green Building Certification to discuss how Lawler Sustainability can support your next BREEAM project.
