The project demonstrates how biodiversity can be leveraged to create a therapeutic and healing environment, one which benefits both service users and staff.

Patrycja Kochaniuk, Sustainability Lead with Scott Tallon Walker Architects, presented a case study on the National Forensic Mental Health Service at the Irish Green Building Council’s ‘Biodiversity & the Built Environment Community of Practice’ meeting on Thursday 3rd October. The project demonstrates how biodiversity can be leveraged to create a therapeutic and healing environment, one which benefits both service users and staff. The hospital was designed to provide a secure, healing space while protecting the site's valuable natural area.

The development process included extensive ecological surveys, and included mapping existing habitats, arboricultural assessments, invasive species surveys, and thorough investigations of local wildlife. These informed the creation of a Biodiversity Management Plan, key features of which included:

• Managing and expanding woodland areas with new native trees to improve habitat connectivity.
• Creating new grasslands.
• Redirecting rainwater from the parking lot to a nearby wetland, which was both cost-effective and beneficial to the wetland ecosystem.
• Introducing a wader scrape to support wildlife by providing food and shelter.
• Installing mammal gates in the perimeter fence to allow movement between different areas.
• Installing bat and bird boxes in both the woodland and buildings.
• Designing the landscape to align with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan using plants with staggered flowering times.
• Planting wildflower meadows between security fences to transition between woodland and the built environment, creating wildlife corridors.

The case study underscored the importance of involving an ecologist early on and fostering strong team collaboration to achieve the best results.

This award-winning facility realises the vision of our client, the Health Service Executive, and positions Ireland’s forensic mental health services as world-leading.

Insightful presentations were also made by Dr Stephen F., Resilience Team Lead at the Climate Change Advisory Council Ireland, and by Carina Galavan, Property Fund Specialist at Aviva.

Thank you to the IGBC for inviting Patrycja to present this project at this event.

Learn more about the National Forensic Mental Health Service at: https://www.stwarchitects.com/our-work/healing/nat...

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