Celebrating 70 years in business, TOBIN Consulting Engineers is a multi-disciplinary engineering practice operating across four separate divisions including Civil | Design Build | Water, Building and Infrastructure, Environment and Planning and Roads & Transportation.
Employing 135 people at its offices in Galway, Dublin, Castlebar and Limerick, the practice was recently honoured at the 2022 ACEI (Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland) Awards in the ‘Innovation – Medium’ category for delivering the world’s largest Sports Air Dome for Connacht GAA in Bekan, Co. Mayo. TOBIN Consulting Engineers is no stranger to winning prestigious awards, having previously won ACEI Awards in 2019 and ’20 for Design Excellence – Structures and Project Management respectively, while it also scooped two awards (Engineering Project of the Year and Heritage & Conservation) at the 2018 Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards.
TOBIN was involved in every aspect of the development of what’s become known as the NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome, from planning stages to contract administration and appointment, through to construction and ultimate completion in October 2020. TOBIN acted as Project Manager, Client’s Representative, Consulting Engineers, PSDP and Cost Managers on the iconic project.
Comprising a double skin fabric, the Air Dome is located on the site of the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence and measures 150m (length) x 100m (width) x 26m (height). The high-specification facility accommodates a full-size 4G synthetic GAA pitch, 130m indoor running track, extensive gym facilities which can accommodate up to 30 people at one time, internal performance testing facilities, 2G synthetic surface concourse areas and seating for over 600 spectators for competitive fixtures.
The energy-efficient Smart Air Dome features specialist LED lighting, high-tech inflation, air exchange, ventilation and heating adaptations that are controlled by multiple systems which use automated fault detection as well as monitoring and maintenance technology to control heat, pressure, humidity and lighting. These automated features create alerts which are sent to the PC and Mobile App of the operator.
The innovative design allows for the structure to transform itself from a sporting facility for the local community into a fully-functional, adaptable conference area within 72 hours. Other prospective functions allow the Air Dome to be used for executive training days, trade exhibitions and concerts with a capacity to hold up to 10,000 people – making it one of Ireland’s largest indoor venues.
The benefits of the €3.1 million Air Dome are endless and most notably create a superlative space allowing for sporting events to take place year-round without interruption due to adverse weather conditions.
“It’s an amazing facility,” TOBIN Project Director Brendan Heaney proudly states.
“Since it opened, it has held numerous GAA matches, GAA Congress and the All-Ireland Scór na nÓg finals to name but a few. Last January’s FBD Connacht League game between Sligo and Leitrim was the first-ever inter-county fixture to be held indoors. It’s fully booked out all-year round and was in high demand during Covid when it allowed for conferences and events to be held in a safe environment.
“Despite some disruption caused by the pandemic, the project works progressed safely and successfully, and were completed within 12 months in accordance with the budget.”
The development was conceptualised through careful planning and investigation of similar international project examples. Consideration was given to the creation of a conventional building. However, costs would have been tenfold and the client’s budget was limited. Instead, research was conducted for innovative solutions which led to the conclusion that the optimum facility for the area would be an Air Dome.
With over 200 events cancelled annually due to adverse weather in the area, the Air Dome has provided the GAA with a facility to host games and training year-round. The double layer inflatable membrane has been engineered to adapt to weather conditions and, when fully inflated, can withstand wind speeds in excess of 100km/h.
Although dome technology is already used worldwide, the magnitude of this development, coupled with the unique requirements of Gaelic Games, posed various challenges that had to be overcome and which ultimately led to the achievement of the Air Dome being the first of its size globally. While dome structures are usually temporarily inflated and deflated for use, the Bekan facility is designed to remain inflated all-year round.
The inflatable structure, comprising Grade 5 Canvas, is anchored to a metre-high concrete perimeter beam around the site, with three platform stations used to inflate the doom and keep it in place. The air fans that inflate the structure are powered by electricity which are backed up by diesel generators in the event of a power failure. These generators in turn are backed up with another generator and fan as a precautionary measure. With its high energy-efficient design, keeping the Air Dome inflated requires the use of only one air fan, with running costs for the inflation being just €150 a day, with PV panels offsetting energy costs with surplus power exported to the grid.
Given its location and the adverse weather conditions the West of Ireland is prone to, the Air Dome has a weather station which detects strong winds, rainstorms and snowstorms. It reacts to such conditions by changing the air pressure internally. The Air Dome is heated using gas blower heaters which can reach temperatures of up to 19 degrees Celsius. In the event of snowfall, the outer membrane of the double layered structure collapses, allowing for the internal heat in the structure to melt the snow. Once melted, the second layer automatically inflates again.
Predominantly engaged in the Civil | Design Build | Water; Building and Infrastructure; Environment and Planning; Roads and Transportation sectors, TOBIN Consulting Engineers has come a long way since it was established in June 1952 by Patrick J Tobin. Starting out as a ‘one man’ operation in 22 Eyre Square, Galway, Patrick had a specific vision and set of standards that he was passionate about embedding in a high-quality engineering consultancy practice.
At the core of his vision was a commitment to excellence and to innovation within the engineering arena as we know it. To make this vision a reality, Patrick set his focus on building a team around him that were committed to this same vision and values. Seventy years later, TOBIN still operates under these same guidelines and proudly maintains a strong family ethos in all of its operations.
Donal Downes joined the practice in 1954 and held the position of Managing Director for many years before being succeeded by Eamonn Waldron in the 1990s. He passed the baton to Patrick Tobin’s son, Robert, in the 2000s before Ciaran McGovern took the reins in 2020. TOBIN initially specialised in Water Services and Structural Engineering before expanding to offer a wider and exceptional range of services.
The award-winning practice would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients, design teams, collaborators and suppliers for their continued support as well as its high-calibre team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Here’s to the next 70 years!
TOBIN Consulting Engineers
Fairgreen House,
Fairgreen Road,
Galway,
H91 AXK8.
Telephone: 091 565211
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.tobinconsultingengineers.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, February 2023, Vol 9 No 2
