“We were delighted to win the LEO Glas award for small businesses in 2024.”
Dhb Architects is a design-led, RIAI registered practice based in Waterford City. Established in 2004 it provides full architectural design services from concept to completion for all types of projects.
Co-owner Máire Henry explains the company’s philosophy, “Our sustainable agenda starts in our own office. We have reduced our emissions and are continuing to implement micro and macro strategies to reduce them even further. We have refurbished and continue to invest in an existing protected structure in the centre of Waterford City thus supporting sustainable town centre first policies.
“We have zero reliance on fossil fuels to run our business and for our travel to sites we use public transport where possible or one of the two electric cars that the office has invested in. The materials we have used to refurbish our office are natural stone, timber, lime plaster and brick.
“Waterford City and County Council, and the Local Enterprise Office has given us support and encouragement as we developed our business. In 2015, we availed of the Economic Incentive Scheme, which offered a reduction in commercial rates for taking over a long-term vacant property. This support helped reduce the initial costs of establishing our premises.
“While we have recently won three national awards for our work in sustainable regeneration of buildings and town centres, the Glas Award was extra special as was a Waterford award, won in Waterford. We were delighted to win the LEO Glas award for small businesses in 2024.
“We fully endorse the efforts of the LEO to change business practices. We are influencing our clients to make the correct choices which is promoting awareness and positive action on climate at a societal level.”
The 2025 Awards were launched by Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan, Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office Waterford, Gareth Evans and Climate Action Coordinator with Waterford City and County Council, Gráinne Kennedy, these awards will showcase what Waterford business is doing to adopt sustainability policies, in a practical sense.
The awards are open to small and medium sized businesses based in Waterford County. The Green Micro Enterprise of the Year is open to all with employees of 10 or less, while the Green SME of the Year is open to those between 11 and 50 employees.
These awards are just one of the many sustainability initiatives that the Local Enterprise Office engages in. It also offers Green for Business, a FREE programme that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable, giving access to a green consultant who’ll demonstrate the small changes that can have a big impact.
Changes that the likes of Dhb Architects embrace every day. Such as reducing value chain emissions. As an architectural office they were heavily dependent on paper. They now use virtual modelling of their buildings where possible which is shared digitally with the design team members and clients. This reduces the amount of printing required.
Their conservation status has led them to take on complex projects in cities and towns around Ireland where existing structures have been repurposed, thus breathing new life into vacant properties. They believe the greenest solution is to repurpose, refurbish and thus regenerate.
Local Enterprise Office Waterford is here to help you start a business, expand an existing business or reach new markets. It provides advice, information and supports in starting up or growing your business as part of a network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland.
Contact your Local Enterprise Office Waterford for their latest training programmes, grants and events schedule on www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford or email info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie for access to all their training support information.
To find out more about DHB Architects see, www.dhbarchitects.ie
