Growing up in Dublin, I remember our secondary school careers teacher had this revolving carousel outside his office. It was packed with leaflets, each one detailing a different job—some exciting, some downright bizarre. Each leaflet told you what the job entailed, how much you’d get paid, and what qualifications you’d need. I spent hours flipping through them, imagining all the different paths I could take.
After an intense round of aptitude tests, my careers teacher confidently told me: Engineering? Not for you.
Fast forward nearly forty years—I have a degree in engineering and spend my days working with incredible clients to help them succeed using the very skills I was told I shouldn’t pursue. Life has a funny way of working out.
The Power of Buildings
As a kid, I was fascinated by art and design. Seeing how design could shape spaces that stir the human spirit was mesmerising. We all have that moment—walking into a building or space that just feels different. Maybe it’s the light, the scale, the acoustics, or how it blends into the natural world. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but you feel it.
Buildings aren’t just bricks and mortar; they have the power to shape our moods, our productivity, and even our well-being. After a career spent designing, constructing, operating, and optimising buildings, I’ve learned just how much our indoor environments influence our success—whether it’s in universities, hospitals, or workplaces.
Why I Do What I Do
Life’s too short to spend it in bad buildings. Period.
Buildings are where we live, learn, heal, work, and grow. They shape our experiences, impact our health, influence the communities we build and impact the planet we share.
But too often, they don’t do enough. A building should be more than just a structure—it should inspire, energise, and drive success.
That’s why I do what I do and founded LCMB. We help clients create and operate workplaces and buildings that do more than just function. We optimise spaces to enhance well-being, boost productivity, increase profitability, and operate sustainably.
Together, we’re shaping a future where workplaces don’t just house people and organisations—they empower them to thrive and flourish.
If you want to understand how to do this with your buildings and workplaces let’s chat. I’d love to help you transform your spaces into something truly exceptional and do more of what I do.
John O’Brien
Founder and MD
[email protected] or 01295 576000
