Trinity College Dublin / Naughton Institute

The Naughton Institute, a joint venture between Trinity College Dublin and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), was established to provide a highly flexible, ultra-low vibration nano facility for cutting-edge scientific investigators. Engineering for Silence Achieving the facility’s low-vibration standards was the core challenge of the design, especially given the site’s difficult location—the last available parcel near the original campus. The institute is subject to high external noise and interference from both overhead commuter trains to the south and heavy truck traffic to the north. Furthermore, the building sits on boulder clay (the “dark mud” that gives Dublin its name).

To mitigate these forces, a sophisticated, multi-layered isolation system was implemented:

1. A one-meter-thick mat foundation provides the base level of vibration isolation.
2. Selected instrument plinths are further isolated with pneumatic springs to provide the highest level of stability.

The basement, which houses 15 dedicated low-vibration laboratories, is organized around “noisy corridors” that contain vibration-generating equipment like pumps, chillers, and dedicated AHUs. The labs themselves utilize a double-wall design, access flooring, and fabric ceilings. Crucially, an active electromagnetic interference (EMI) cancellation system was deployed to offset the magnetic fields generated by the passing commuter trains. 

Facility Layout

The facility’s upper floors are dedicated to collaboration and less vibration-sensitive activities. The building provides dry laboratories and offices for ten principal investigators and their collaborators across levels 2, 3, and 4. The main amenities include lecture halls and a science-focused visual arts gallery. The 2,800 square foot cleanroom is strategically located on the top floor, with its large air handling units positioned on the level above for easy, isolated maintenance.