Munster Rugby Wins Best Climate Resilience Award

Munster Rugby’s new Cork Centre of Excellence received the Best Climate Resilience Award at last Friday’s Cork Better Building Awards held at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City.

The Better Building Awards focus on the care and presentation of the city’s built heritage as well as the integration and enhancement of the new developments within the city. It brings together all the traders, business and building owners, both large and small, who contribute to the vibrancy and vitality of the city centre and suburbs.

The Cork Centre of Excellence was nominated for two awards at Friday’s event; Best New Development and Best Climate Resilience, winning the latter.

Pictured (L-R): CBA President Dave O’Brien, Niall Fitzgerald (Director, Horgan Lynch), Robert Fergey (KSN Horizon), Seán McMahon (Munster Rugby Head of Communications), Philip Quinn (Munster Rugby Chief Operating Officer), Ian Dunne (Munster Rugby, Virgin Media Park Stadium Manager), Tim Dorrington (KSN Horizons), Lord Mayor Cllr. Fergal Dennehy.

The Centre of Excellence, which was officially opened by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the beginning of October, includes a world-class indoor rugby dome with a 50x40m 3G training pitch, the first of its kind in the region. The dome’s semi-translucent roof maximises natural daylight, reducing energy use and creating a bright, healthy space, while the lightweight steel frame and tensile membrane minimise materials without compromising resilience.

The two-storey building houses Munster Rugby’s head office, offering staff a world-class workplace designed for wellbeing, collaboration and international performance, alongside meeting rooms and a stadium viewing terrace.

Munster Rugby Centre Of Excellence Opening 4/10/2025
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Together with the dome and stadium, the facility forms a site-wide energy ecosystem, ensuring efficiency, usability and year-round access for sport and community life.

Key Sustainability and Climate Resilience Features

• A1 BER rating achieved through energy-efficient design
• Solar-powered electricity from 644 PV panels on the stadium roof – one of Ireland’s largest renewable initiatives in sport
• All-electric heating via air-source heat pumps
• Indoor dome: semi-translucent, high-tensile membrane; lightweight, low-carbon construction; engineered to withstand wind, snow, and rain
• Climate-adapted design: mechanical ventilation and dehumidification options maintain consistent all-weather conditions year-round
• Low-carbon operation & active travel: LED lighting, EV chargers, water refill stations and bike parking
• Continuing sustainability journey: plans for green spaces and biodiversity corridors to enhance the grounds for future generations.

Munster Rugby Sustainability Lead, Laura Lahiff said:

“Munster Rugby’s Cork Centre of Excellence represents climate resilience in action – not just through sustainable design, but by strengthening the resilience of people and communities.

“In many ways, the resilience of the people built this Centre, and the Centre in turn strengthens their resilience for the future. It provides safe, adaptable and vibrant spaces for a wide range of users – from age-grade rugby squads to local GAA and soccer clubs, inclusive programmes, school blitzes, and coaching courses – ensuring sport, wellbeing and learning thrive year-round.”