Founded in 1993 by Jan and Ingrid van Dijk, VDA has since grown into one of Ireland's leading architectural firms.
With over 33 years’ experience across housing, education, healthcare, civic and commercial sectors, we deliver innovative design solutions that unite creativity, functionality and enduring value. We design with purpose and deliver with precision. By understanding our clients, we create architecture that goes beyond the brief and advances design quality, commercial success and long term sustainability. Our approach brings together creativity, integrity and insight, supported by research, collaboration and strong partnerships.
As leaders in sustainable design, van Dijk Architects is committed to becoming Ireland’s first carbon neutral architectural practice. Our studio runs entirely on renewable electricity, including power generated on site, and our headquarters have been reimagined with a natural ventilation strategy. Beyond our buildings, we are restoring land in Louth as an urban biodiversity park, planting native trees and habitats, introducing beehives and creating ponds to offset the carbon we cannot eliminate.
Our expertise lie within the fields of architecture, development consultancy, design and build, urban design and stakeholder engagement.
As RIAI-Award winning architects, we believe that great buildings and spaces are created through genuine collaboration with all stakeholders at every stage of a project. Our focus is on producing architecture that clients, users and communities can enjoy and take pride in. Over the years, we have designed multi-award-winning buildings that reflect our commitment to design excellence and social value.
We create architecture that enriches the experience of those who inhabit and interact with it. By understanding both the physical and emotional ways people engage with space, we deliver projects of lasting quality, integrity and meaning.
Sustainability and cost-efficiency are at the heart of our design philosophy. As a practice, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that every building and its surroundings are conceived and constructed in the most sustainable way possible. We work closely with our clients to achieve the best value for every project, ensuring budgets are used efficiently to create environments that are community-focused, durable, attractive and economical to operate. Our rigorous approach to design and life-cycle efficiency ensures architecture that performs as beautifully as it looks.
van Dijk Architects provides a development advisory service to clients which includes financial appraisals. Such appraisals include both traditional Nett Present Value / Residual Value assessments and full cash flow analysis should it be required. All our financial appraisals include full sensitivity analysis to show the effect of potential upside and downside risks.
Our integrated service allows us to test potentially different uses or approaches to the development of a site against their financial return in a seamless way. The ability to carry out financial appraisals also assists the practice in our public private partnership bids with main contractors.
We are experts in working within the Design and Build model, providing design expertise that is fully integrated with the construction process. We deliver designs that are practical, buildable and aligned with the client’s objectives. We collaborate closely with the contractor to ensure the design vision is realised while maintaining quality, efficiency and value throughout the project. This approach allows us to create buildings that are both innovative and constructible, delivering long-term value for our clients.
We bring added value to every project through a best-practice approach to urban design, placing people at the heart of public spaces and urban environments rather than vehicles. Our designs promote social inclusion, combining durability and low-maintenance solutions with thoughtfully crafted spaces that enhance the experience of everyone who uses them.
We have extensive experience in urban design and masterplanning and an in-house Urban Design Expert, Ciaran Savage, who has professional qualifications in this subject.
At van Dijk Architects, stakeholder consultation is not only about improving design outcomes but also about strengthening community identity and well-being. We involve clients, end users, community groups, local authorities, and specialist consultants in a meaningful process of dialogue. We believe that listening is as important as designing, and by carefully understanding the needs, aspirations, and concerns of each stakeholder, we create buildings and spaces that are firmly rooted in their context, more sustainable, and more likely to stand the test of time.
We have extensive experience of formal stakeholder engagement and an in-house Stakeholder Engagement Expert, Cathal Fearon who has professional qualifications in this subject.
We listen intently to our client’s needs throughout the process to achieve project goals while building long lasting working relationships.
Clear communication drives our work, ensuring clients, stakeholders, end users, and communities are heard throughout the design process. Supported by ongoing training and cutting-edge technology, our team delivers solutions with precision, creativity, and confidence.
Quality-driven and solution-focused, we earn lasting trust with clients through the buildings we create and the places we shape, with senior management accessible on every project to ensure excellence.
We have distilled our approach into four core values that demonstrate our focus as a practice.
Client Focus
Through our culture of honesty, integrity, understanding, friendliness, and clear communication, we build and sustain strong, long-term relationships with our clients. By actively listening and solving challenges effectively, we ensure each client relationship is grounded in trust and shared success.
Professional Pride
We take pride in the design, quality and professional standards achieved in all of our work. As an RIAI award‑winning practice, we are relentless in our pursuit of making every project the best it can be.
Working Environment
Our studio fosters a positive, collaborative atmosphere where teamwork thrives. Every team member is valued, supported, and given opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Process Orientated
We continually refine our methods to deliver efficient, reliable service. Through commitment, expertise and a smart process oriented working approach, we achieve consistent, high-quality results.
Our practice has won multiple awards of the highest recognition both nationally and internationally.
This year we have won Social Housing Project of the Year and Public Residential Project of the Year 2026, along with 'Best Company to Work for' at the IBDA Awards. We have been shortlisted for multiple upcoming Healthcare Building Awards.
In 2025, we won an international award at the BIG SEE Architecture Awards in Slovenia. Our firm was also awarded a Silver Award at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2025. We are past recent winners of both the RIAI Universal Design and the RIAI Cultural & Public Buildings awards.
We have also been awarded multiple prizes at the Wood Awards Ireland, the Irish Construction Excellence Awards, the Design & Build Awards, the Building & Architect of the Year Awards, and the Irish Building & Design Awards in the past couple of years. We were shortlisted for the 2025 Healthcare Project of the Year and Housing Project of the Year.
We are accredited in the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and are members of the Irish Green Building Council.
Meet Our
People
Mill House, Mill Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 XTF7
Scottish Provident Building, 7 Donegall Square West, Belfast, BT1 6JH
VDI KSA, Unit J Auto Moto Business Park King Faisal Road, Ar Rakah Al Khobar
VDI Poland Sp. z o.o. No. 41A/6 Swieradowska Street, 50-559 Wroclaw
VDI Project Management Ltd. HDS Business Centre 3204 (Cluster M) Jumeirah Lakes Towers Duba