Heneghan Peng Architects

Heneghan Peng Architects is an architecture practice founded by Róisín Heneghan and Shih-Fu Peng. The firm was established in New York in 1999 and relocated to Dublin in 2001. By 2021, it operated from bases in Dublin and Berlin, while undertaking projects and design competitions across Europe, the Middle East and other international markets. The practice became particularly prominent through competition-led commissions in the cultural and civic sectors. Its most internationally visible project is the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt. Heneghan Peng won the museum design competition from a field of 1,557 entries, at a time when the practice had only three staff members. The commission placed the firm in the context of one of the world's most significant archaeological and museum developments and established its reputation beyond Ireland. Its portfolio also includes the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre in Northern Ireland, Áras Chill Dara in Kildare, Ireland, new footbridges for London's Olympic Park, the University of Greenwich's library and academic building, the Palestinian Museum, and competition proposals for major infrastructure and institutional projects. These commissions span architecture, landscape-sensitive visitor facilities, higher-education buildings, museums, bridges and public administration. The firm's work has been recognized through professional awards and shortlistings. Áras Chill Dara received a 2006 RIBA European Award. The Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre received a RIBA National Award, was nominated for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize and was shortlisted for the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. The Palestinian Museum received the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Heneghan Peng's visible body of work is characterized by public-facing buildings in culturally or environmentally sensitive settings. Its projects often involve complex briefs, international competitions, heritage contexts or prominent landscapes. The practice's expansion from its New York origin to Dublin and Berlin reflects an internationally oriented model rather than a firm focused solely on its home market. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed corporate ownership structure, current executive roster beyond the founding partners, financial information, or a separate parent company.

Heneghan Peng Architects was founded in New York in 1999 by Róisín Heneghan and Shih-Fu Peng. The firm's early establishment in the United States was followed by a move to Dublin in 2001, creating an Irish base for a practice that would continue to pursue work across national borders. By 2021, the practice was described as having offices or bases in Dublin and Berlin. The firm's profile grew through international architectural competitions and commissions for public buildings. A defining breakthrough came with the Grand Egyptian Museum competition. Heneghan Peng was selected from 1,557 entries despite having only three staff members at the time. The commission connected the young practice with one of the world's most important museum and archaeological settings and helped establish its international reputation. The practice's portfolio developed across several related areas: museums and cultural buildings, visitor centres, education, civic architecture and infrastructure. In Ireland, Áras Chill Dara in Kildare became an award-winning civic project, receiving a 2006 RIBA European Award. The Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre in Northern Ireland demonstrated the firm's work in a sensitive natural and heritage landscape. It later received a RIBA National Award, was nominated for the 2013 RIBA Stirling Prize and was shortlisted for the 2013 Mies van der Rohe Award. In 2009, Heneghan Peng won three competitions that broadened the geographical and functional range of its work. These included the proposed Arabsat headquarters in Saudi Arabia, a bridge over the Rhine between St. Goar and St. Goarshausen in Germany, and a new library and academic building for the University of Greenwich in London. The Greenwich building was located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site and accommodated the university's Department of Architecture & Landscape and Department of Creative Professions & Digital Arts. Other prominent commissions included new footbridges at London's Olympic Park and the Palestinian Museum. The latter received the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, reinforcing the firm's standing in cultural architecture. Across these projects, the practice has worked on buildings and structures where public access, institutional use, landscape, heritage and civic identity are central considerations. Available reference material presents Heneghan Peng as a design-led architectural practice rather than a diversified corporate brand. It does not provide a verified current employee count, ownership structure, financial data, public listing, or comprehensive list of current directors. The firm's documented history is therefore best understood through its founders, offices, competitions, commissions and architectural awards.

1. 2021Dublin and Berlin bases documented

   Reference material described the practice as operating from Dublin and Berlin.

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2. 2019Palestinian Museum wins Aga Khan Award

   The Palestinian Museum received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

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3. 2013Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre recognized

   The visitors' centre won a RIBA National Award and received nominations or shortlistings for two major European architecture awards.

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4. 2009Three competition victories

   The firm won competitions for the Arabsat headquarters, a Rhine bridge and a University of Greenwich library and academic building.

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5. 2006Áras Chill Dara receives a RIBA European Award

   The Kildare civic project received a RIBA European Award.

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6. 2001Relocation to Dublin

   The practice moved its base from New York to Dublin, establishing its principal Irish presence.

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7. 1999Practice founded in New York

   Róisín Heneghan and Shih-Fu Peng established Heneghan Peng Architects in New York.

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An internationally oriented architecture practice focused on cultural, educational, civic and infrastructure commissions, with a strong profile in design competitions and projects located within significant heritage or landscape settings.

• Grand Egyptian MuseumMuseum and cultural architecture

  An internationally prominent museum project in Giza, Egypt. Heneghan Peng Architects won the design competition from 1,557 entries, making the commission a pivotal moment in the firm's development and international profile.

• Áras Chill DaraCivic architecture

  A civic project in Kildare, Ireland. The building received a 2006 RIBA European Award, placing it among the firm's recognized Irish public-sector works.

• Giant's Causeway Visitors' CentreVisitor centre

  A visitor facility at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, a setting with strong environmental and heritage significance. The project won a RIBA National Award and received major award recognition in 2013.

• London Olympic Park footbridgesInfrastructure and public realm

  A group of new footbridges designed for London's Olympic Park. The work illustrates the practice's involvement in public infrastructure and movement through large civic landscapes.

• University of Greenwich library and academic buildingHigher education architecture

  A competition-winning university building in London, located within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It accommodates the Department of Architecture & Landscape and the Department of Creative Professions & Digital Arts.

• Palestinian MuseumMuseum and cultural architecture

  A cultural institution designed by Heneghan Peng Architects that received the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, one of the firm's most significant documented honors.

• 2019Palestinian Museum receives Aga Khan Award for Architecture

  Heneghan Peng's Palestinian Museum project received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, adding a major international architectural distinction to the practice's cultural portfolio.

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• 2013Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre receives major architectural recognition

  The Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre won a RIBA National Award, was nominated for the RIBA Stirling Prize and was shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe Award.

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• 2009Heneghan Peng wins three international design competitions

  In 2009, the practice won competitions for the Arabsat headquarters in Saudi Arabia, a bridge over the Rhine between St. Goar and St. Goarshausen in Germany, and a new library and academic building for the University of Greenwich in London.

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• Heneghan Peng wins the Grand Egyptian Museum design competition

  The practice won the international competition for the Grand Egyptian Museum from 1,557 entries. The project became its most prominent international commission and was secured when the firm had only three staff members.

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1. Heneghan Peng Architects