HELENA MCELMEEL

Dip.Arch. B.Arch.Sc MSc.Arch.:AEES PG Dip. Proj. Mgt.CPHD WELL AP MRIAI

Registered Architect/Director

Passive House Designer

Helena founded the practice in 2011 and is the principal architect and creative director. She has 23 years’ experience and previously worked in practices in Galway and Mayo where she designed a diverse range of projects, such as the Citypoint (TK Maxx) building in Galway city, very high specification low energy private houses, masterplans and Area Action Plans, and a Belltower at St. Patrick’s Church Ballina, which was commended in the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards.
Helena began her architectural education in Dublin Institute of Technology, graduating in 2002, and was awarded a distinction in her MSc in Architecture: Advanced Energy and Environmental Studies in 2013. She is an Architect Accredited in Conservation at Grade III and has completed the RIAI SHW Project Supervisor Design Process training. She represented the Western Region on the RIAI Council from 2009 to 2011, and is currently an active member of Galway County Council’s Community and Culture Strategic Policy Committee. She has a PG Diploma in Project Management from Trinity College Dublin, is a Certified Passive House Designer and also a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP).
Helena’s design work has featured in many publications, and she has been invited to lecture at architectural and low energy building conferences and CPD events. She won the RIAI 3Twenty10 Research competition for her work relating to energy retrofits and post occupancy evaluation. Presently, she is an Adjunct Lecturer in NUI Galway teaching architecture and urban planning part-time. Helena contributes to several voluntary groups in her free time, including Headford Town Team, Headford and District Association and the RIAI Sustainability Taskforce.

OWEN MORGAN

B.Arch  CPHD  WELL AP  MRIAI …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Registered Architect/Associate Director

Passive House Designer

Owen is a RIAI Registered Architect with over 12 years’ experience working on a wide range of project types including Residential, Master Planning, Commercial and Fit-Out. He has worked in practices in Ireland and Canada on both large and small scale projects and is also a Certified Passive House Designer with a passion for sustainable design at all stages of the architectural process. He has a keen interest in the health and well-being of building users and is a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) with the International WELL Building Institute. He enjoys hiking and swimming in his spare time.

OLGA MARQUES

B.Arch., BIM AG, M.Arch., CPHD, MRIAI …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Registered Architect

Passive House Designer

Olga is a Registered Architect since 2011 and a member of the RIAI since 2018. She graduated from the Porto School of Architecture in 2006 and in 2009 she earned a Master Degree in Bioclimatic Architecture with Honours. She has lived and worked in Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Austria. Olga is fully committed to excellence in architectural design and ecological responsibility and has a particular interest in low energy and passive house design. She has experience in the residential and commercial sectors, urban regeneration and public engagement, and is also a Certified Passive House Designer and a certified BIM AG.

BLAIR STANAWAY

MA(Hons) DipArch MRIAI

Registered Architect

Blair is a Registered Architect, graduating from Edinburgh University in 1996, and registering with the RIAI in 2004. Blair has gained over 25 years’ experience on projects ranging from small scale residential and refurbishments and extensions, one-off houses, to large scale educational, residential, and commercial developments, working on projects through the complete design and construction processes. He is an Architect Accredited in Conservation at Grade III, and has worked on conservation projects of varying scale and complexity. He has also completed the IOSH Project Supervisor Design Stage training as well as the IOSH Managing Safely training.

MICHELLE MURPHY

M.Arch.,B.Arch, MRIAI

Registered Architect

Michelle is a RIAI Registered Architect having completed her Professional Diploma in Architecture at UCD in 2019. Following her Masters in Architecture from University College Dublin in 2015, she gained experience working on a wide range of project types including Residential, Master Planning, Commercial and Interior Fit-Out. She worked in Dublin on both large- and small-scale projects until joining Helena McElmeel Architects in 2023. She has in interest in public engagement through her public sector work. Michelle is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Passive House Designer.

DECLAN MORAN

B.Sc.Arch.Tech, BIM AG

Architectural Technologist

Galway born Architectural Technologist, Declan graduated from GMIT in 2018 with First Class Honours. He added to his qualifications with a Higher Diploma in BIM with Distinction in 2020 and is currently in to process of becoming a Certified Passive House Designer. Declan completed The Energy Modelling Tools using PHPP module at TU Dublin in 2022. Declan strives for excellence in architectural detailing, ensuring sustainability is at the forefront of product specification and has a passion for Passive House and 3D modelling. He is experienced in the delivery of diverse range of buildings from conservation residential buildings to large scale retail units. He has been to the forefront in the practice becoming an EcoMerit Certified Company and developing our One Planet Living Plan. Declan has a passion for photography, his favourite subject to capture being nature, particularly the dramatic coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way.

SOFIA IVANCHUK

B.Arch., M.Arch.

Architectural Designer

Sofia is a Ukrainian architectural graduate who joined Helena McElmeel Architects in April 2022. Born and raised in Lviv, she graduated from Lviv Polytechnic National University in 2017 and in 2018 finished her Master’s Degree in Architecture and Restoration with Honours. Sofia participated in the Double Diploma Program during the second year of her Master’s Degree at Lviv Polytechnic National University, a shared programme with Lviv Polytechnic and Lublin University of Technology, sponsored by UNESCO. As a result, in 2019 she earned her second Master’s Degree in Diagnosis and Repair of Buildings at Lublin University of Technology. Until the start of 2022, she was working on the refurbishment & renewal project of the Drohobych saltworks (the oldest factory in Ukraine) with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

JOANNA FERENC

M.Sc. Commerce & Marketing

Office Manager

Joanna completed her MSc in Commerce & Marketing in 2007 at the Poznań University of Economics and Business, one of the oldest, most prestigious, and leading schools of business in Poland. Since then, she gained international experience working in Ireland, London and Poland in customer relation management & administration; sales & marketing; bookkeeping & credit control and real estate. In her professional development she completed with distinction Digital Marketing Level 5 course at GTI, QQI Level 6 Training Delivery & Evaluation Course (prev. FETAC Train the Trainer) and one year of Higher Certificate in property Services and Facilities Management at ATU. She is experienced in handling a wide range of administrative duties and executive support-related tasks. Well organized, flexible, enjoys the administrative challenges of supporting an office of diverse people.

Helena McElmeel Architects is a design focused architectural practice with a portfolio of beautiful buildings. Our skilled team brings years of experience to ensure high quality projects and design solutions, regardless of scale or budget. We enjoy the challenges of new briefs, and designing and delivering diverse building types and spaces with a focus on proper low energy building and sustainability.
The practice’s work has featured in numerous publications, and was awarded the Sustainability Award for a Single Building or Development in Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2017.

We listen to our clients to fully understand their requirements and vision for the project. We work closely with them to develop the brief if necessary, and to explore design strategies and solutions that seek to surpass expectations while ensuring value and respecting budgets. Our bespoke designs come from a response to place – we study and analyse the physical and environmental context of each site, the light, the views, its history and potential. This allows us to design imaginative buildings and craft beautiful spaces that are specific to every client and every site. Many of our projects are in challenging planning environments and our planning success rate reflects our unique design approach. Sustainability is an integral part of our design process, not just an add-on. We incorporate passive design principles into all our designs. Our passion for design informs every detail of our projects, large or small, as we strive to deliver quality buildings for our clients that are elegant, durable and timeless.