DAERA HQ, An Office Oasis by Metal Technology

The recently completed signature headquarters for Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and rural Affairs (DAERA) in Ballykelly brings together a suite of state-of the-art systems from architectural aluminium systems’ company Metal Technology.

The project design took account of functionality, appropriate build quality and impact on the environment. The impressive project circa 5175m2 comprises of 470 workstations, a ministerial suite and infrastructure for expansion.

Metal Technology’s System 17 curtain walling featured on all façades in combination with System 5-35Hi+ tilt-and-turn and 4-35Hi+ casement windows, the south, east and west elevations also utilised two variants of System 22 Brise Soliel providing solar control. The 300mm continuous blade to the atrium area was designed specifically to meet the design requirements for this project.

All Metal Technology systems are designed to perform seamlessly together to deliver the desired aesthetic and performance standards. Used individually or together, they offer complete design flexibility for creative aesthetics with the assurance of value engineered structural, weather and security performance.

The 3-storey office accommodation was designed to be environmentally friendly in all aspects and has a achieved a BREEAM rating of “Excellent”. The project makes history as it is the first time a government department has relocated its headquarters to a rural area in Northern Ireland.