PDA have been responsible for a wide variety of project types from Housing to Industrial, Public Realm to Educational, Conservation and Urban regeneration and much in between.
Living and working in South-West Donegal, our work is deeply rooted in community and its context. We design for people and place with a strong emphasis on sustainability.
A team of detail-oriented designers who love what they do.
Dip. Arch Tech, Dip. Arch, BSc Arch, PG Dip Urban Planning & Sustainable development. RIAI Architect accredited in Conservation Grade 3
Paul is a graduate of TU Dublin (formerly DIT Bolton St.). He set up practice in Donegal Town in 1998 after previously working in Dublin & London.
Paul recently qualified as an Architect accredited in Conservation at Grade 3, he is currently completing a Masters in Urban Planning & Sustainable development at TU Dublin.
Paul specialises in design and planning, masterplanning ,strategic development, building condition, Conservation and Site inspections.
Paul is a keen Beekeeper, Cyclist, Skier and (Hugo) dog walker.
Dip Arch, BSc Arch, MA . PG Dip Ped. PG Cert Building Energy Performance EED RIAI Architect accredited in Conservation Grade 3.
Anna is a graduate of TU Dublin. She has worked in Dublin, London & Germany before joining PDA in 2001.
Anna is a qualified Passive House Designer and holds the RIAI accreditation in Environmental Architecture.
Anna is an Architect accredited in Conservation at Grade 3 from the RIAI.
Anna is the Northern Region Representative on RIAI Council.
Anna teaches in Architectural Technology and Construction Management at Atlantic Technological University- ATU Letterkenny, utilising her experience in detail design, CAD, Revit, Wufi, Psi-Therm, Photoshop, InDesign, One Click LCA, DEAP and PHPP.
Anna also specialises in Urban regeneration and Conservation work within the practice.
Anna is a keen swimmer and walker.
BSc Architectural Technology, Cert in Fire Safety, PG Cert
Aonghus qualified as an Architectural Technologist from TU Dublin in 1998, working in Dublin and before returning to Donegal Town.
Aonghus has worked with PDA since 2001, specialising in detail design, planning, tender, compliance, specification and site.
Aonghus is a keen cyclist regularly clocking up hundreds of kilometers a week up mountains and down dales around Donegal.
BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology
John qualified from ATU Donegal with a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Technology in 2021.
John has worked with PDA since graduation. John specialises in production of Planning & Tender packages, 3D modelling and rendering.
John hails from Letterkenny enjoying the scenic Gap as he makes his early morning journeys through to Donegal.
As a recently qualified Architectural Technologist, starting my new role, I am keen to expand my knowledge of the construction industry further. My work involves assisting the senior technologists and architects in bring concept ideas to construction solutions with strict focus on the technical detail aspect and designing to the building regulations standards. I work with software such as Revit and Auto Cad and I am keen to provide sustainable comfortable buildings that can be enjoyed by people for years to come.
The foundation of any successful project is built upon understanding, trust, communication and collaboration. Our goal is to understand your goals.
Whether it is a new-build or a repurposing of an existing building, we want to learn as much as possible about your needs, the site, the budget, regulations and constraints and help you develop a brief for a building that will attain those goals and exceed expectations. We’ll look at options (undertake feasibility) so we can all be sure of the right path ahead. We’ll develop a massing model to show the various possibilities in different forms and positions on the site. We will explain the impact of each option and help you choose the one that suits your needs best.
We will develop the design further in sketch and 3D model to allow you understand the form and rationale behind it. The design process continues well into the project stages but a strong identifiable rationale/concept will keep us all on the right track. When we have agreed a way forward together, a full design proposal will be created leading to a planning application.
Following a successful planning decision and other consents where necessary, we will develop detail design, suggesting structure, cladding, windows, floor materials and finishes to correspond with the agreed design. This is a really important process in order to get the exact quality and standard of finish you wish for. During this time we will also complete a full building regulations compliance design, to achieve BCAR (Building Control Amendment Regulations).
The tendering process follows where we will ask up to five experienced contractors to price the work and give an estimate of all costs. At the stage of appointing a contractor we will enter a contract (RIAI Contracts) to ensure that the process and final result is equitable for all.
When the project is on site, we will provide regular inspections of the work to ensure quality and compliance. This will also be an opportunity for interim payments to the contractor to be certified by us and drawn from lending agency etc.
Following practical completion on site a yearlong defects liability time will allow any snags or tweaks to be completed fully before the final payment to the contractor.
Over 20 years experience in all areas of architectural practice.
At our architectural practice, sustainability is the cornerstone of our design philosophy. Our commitment goes beyond meeting basic building regulations, as we strive to surpass industry standards in creating environmentally responsible structures. We prioritize thermal performance, minimizing operational energy through meticulous material selection and construction methods. Embracing off-site prefabrication and prioritizing timber structures helps reduce embodied energy and promotes sustainable building practices.
Constantly evolving, we actively seek knowledge to enhance our ability to design better-performing, sustainable spaces. Our approach involves understanding how our buildings function post-occupancy, equipping us to address climate challenges through socially and environmentally responsible design.
Taking a holistic project-specific perspective, we evaluate and incorporate renewable technologies tailored to each project. We recognize the importance of balancing sustainability with budget constraints, ensuring that specified systems and technologies align with economic considerations.
As certified Passivhaus Designers, we integrate the fundamental principles of Passivhaus into every project. This commitment results in energy-efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective buildings that benefit both clients and users.
Our clients know us for being curious and committed to them and their visions. Selected clients include:
Donegal County Council
Magee & Co. Weaving
ETB (Educational Training Board)
Awake Tourism
Coiste Fórbatha
Church of Ireland Mountcharles & Donegal Town
Methodist Church Donegal Town
Mooney Boats
Swan Nets Gundry
