RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Symphony Energy have received international recognition for achieving a 40.5% reduction in energy consumption at RCSI’s 26 York Street building in Dublin.
The building was named a winner in the Existing Buildings: Operational Excellence category at the World Championship for Energy Savings (WCES), with the award announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.
The award, organised by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), recognises significant improvements in building energy performance and highlights the potential to reduce carbon emissions through the optimisation of existing building systems.
The savings at 26 York Street were achieved using Symphony Energy’s technology to improve the efficiency of the building’s existing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, without the need for major equipment replacement.
The technology uses advanced algorithms and building management system data to adjust HVAC operations according to changing requirements. It also incorporates Symphony Cycle, a patented process that recycles waste heat for heating while supporting the building’s cooling needs.
RCSI’s building was selected from five international finalists, including Hay’s Galleria in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and TARSHID Headquarters in Riyadh.
Tom Ascough, Co-founder and Managing Director of Symphony Energy, said the project demonstrated the potential to improve energy efficiency across the existing building stock.
“The project at RCSI’s 26 York Street building demonstrates how best-in-class control and optimisation of existing building systems can complement good original design, helping building owners enhance operational performance in a commercially viable way.”
Ronan Baxter, Director of Estates at RCSI, said the university had worked with Symphony Energy on the project since 2020.
“As an early adopter of Symphony’s cutting-edge technology, RCSI has achieved significant, real-world energy savings which have been instrumental in RCSI’s commitment to the Climate Action Plan and a 50% global reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.”
He added that Symphony’s cloud platform had also helped RCSI achieve ISO 50001 certification for energy management in 2025.
Located on RCSI’s Dublin city centre campus, 26 York Street extends over 10 floors and provides teaching, study and recreational facilities, including an advanced clinical healthcare simulation centre.
Designed by Henry J Lyons, the building was voted Ireland’s Favourite Building at the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards in 2018.
The international recognition also acknowledges the wider collaboration behind the project, including Henry J Lyons, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), which nominated the building, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The project highlights how improvements to existing building services and control systems can deliver substantial energy savings without extensive refurbishment or replacement of mechanical equipment, offering a potential approach to reducing emissions across Ireland’s commercial and public building stock.
