Rachel O’Grady joins panel at New Life, Old Buildings – Future Heritage, Limerick
Rachel speaking about adaptive reuse of old buildings
Rachel O’Grady speaking as part of Irish Architecture Foundation event in Limerick.
We are delighted to share that Dr Rachel O’Grady, co-director of OGU Architects and lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast, has been invited to speak as a panellist at New Life, Old Buildings in Limerick this September.
This innovative programme, curated by the Irish Architecture Foundation with support from the National Built Heritage Service and the Heritage Council, explores how conservation, adaptive reuse, and community-led design can shape more sustainable and inclusive futures for our towns and cities.
The 2025 theme, Future Heritage, asks a vital question: how can the buildings we already have become the spaces we need today? At a time of climate crisis and social change, this focus on reuse and reinvention highlights the role of heritage buildings, vacant properties, and underused community assets in supporting resilience, sustainability and cultural life.
Rachel will contribute insights from OGU’s award-winning work in conservation and community buildings, including projects that reimagine existing structures as shared, adaptable spaces. As part of her work, OGU has transformed civic landmarks such as 2 Royal Avenue and the Queen’s Quay Kiosk, and collaborated with more than various community and business groups across Belfast.
Our approach emphasises:
Adaptive reuse – unlocking the potential of vacant or historic buildings for new public, cultural and educational uses.
Community involvement – designing with local groups to ensure projects are inclusive and genuinely reflect their needs.
Sustainability – recognising that the greenest building is often the one already standing, and that careful stewardship of the built environment is essential in addressing climate change.
Now in its third year, New Life, Old Buildings has established itself as a leading national conversation about the future of built heritage in Ireland, strengthening networks of practitioners, policymakers and communities committed to quality conservation and reuse.
📅 Rachel will join the panel discussions in Limerick on 18 September 2025.
🌐 View the full programme
🎟️ Book your place