Kirk’s multidisciplinary background in engineering, architecture and science has resulted in his involvement in a diverse range of specialist projects and topics from development of innovative web-based ICT tools for the assessment of low carbon sustainable energy systems for building developments, to life cycle analysis of construction techniques, scenario quantification techniques to inform climate change policy development, and television media programmes on energy use at home and at work.

He has been a key mover in developing new research programmes and teams in the Dublin Institute of Technology where he currently supervises a team of PhD students and manages a number of nationally and European funded projects. Kirk has published internationally and takes a hands-on approach to projects, often carrying out the detailed analysis elements of his team's projects himself. Examples include developing an indirect simulation method to evaluate the cooling demand impact of switchable electrochromic glazing, and the stack ventilation effect of a solar tower for computer labs in a new Engineering Faculty building at the University of Limerick.

He has been involved in exploring the role of architectural studies pedagogy in supporting sustainable design solutions and continues to have active roles in academia and industry. Kirk’s work follows the path of striking a balance between environment, economics, technology and people.