Construction BUSINESS

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has announced the winners of 2018 RIAI Architecture Awards. The awards, held recently at a ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House, recognise the quality of work carried out by RIAI members in 2017 and highlight the contribution that Irish architects make to society for everyone’s benefit.

Now in their 29^th year and with 15 categories, this year’s shortlist included 32 projects, spanning 12 counties across Ireland as well as an international project in India. The jury chose 20 overall winners and gave awards to 12 Highly Commended and 8 Commended entries. 2018 saw the highest number of entries to the awards since before the recession and the standard was so high that the jury also selected 63 projects for exhibition, which will be shown at the RIAI offices and online later this year.

Clancy Quay, Phase 2 by OMP Architects was the winner in Housing, while the prize for Best Public and Culture went to the National Gallery of Ireland, Refurbishment of Historic Wings project by Heneghan Peng architects, with Blackwood Associates Architects.  Newry Leisure Centre in Co. Down won in the Best Universal Design category and Meath County Council HQ, by Bucholz EcEvoy Architects, took the top spot in the Fit-Out category.  The Tenement Museum in Dublin, designed by Shaffrey Architects was named Best Conservation/Restoration Building. The award for Best Education Building was shared between a primary school in Westport, Co. Mayo, Scoil Phádraig, designed by SJK Architects and No 26 York Street, the new medical education building on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland campus in Dublin, which was designed by Henry J Lyons.  Irish architects continue to deliver major projects abroad and Best International Project went to Thapar University Student Accommodation in India, designed by McCullough Mulvin.

For the 10^th year, members of the public were invited to have their say on the Public Choice award. Over 10,000 votes were cast, and the winning building was No 26 York Street, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (pictured above), designed by Henry J Lyons.

2018 Category Winners

Best Commercial / Workplace

1WML Office and Mixed-Use Development, Dublin by MOLA Architecture

AND

Fallahogey Studio, Kilrea, Coleraine by McGarry Moon Architects Ltd.

Best Conservation / Restoration

No 14 Henrietta Street, Tenement Museum Dublin by Shaffrey Architects

Best Culture or Public Building

National Gallery of Ireland, Refurbishment of Historic Wings, Dublin by Heneghen Peng Architects with Blackwood Associates Architects (Conservation Architect)

Best Educational Building

Scoil Phádraig, Westport, Co. Mayo by SJK Architects

AND

No 26 York Street, RCSI, Dublin, Henry J Lyons

Best Fit-Out

Meath County Council HQ, Co. Meath by Bucholz McEvoy Architects

AND

Triggerfish Cookshop, Co. Dublin by Darragh Breathnach

Best Health Building

Northwest Cancer Centre, Derry by O’Connell Mahon Architects with Isherwood and Ellis Architects

Best House

Vaulted House, Dublin by GKMP Architects

Best House Extension

St Catherine’s, Dublin by Ryan W. Kennihan Architects

Best Housing

Clancy Quay, Phase 2, Dublin by O’Mahony Pike Architects with Lindsay Conservation Architects

Best Public Place

Port Centre Precinct, Dublin by Darmody Architecture

AND

DLR Red Jetty, Co. Dublin by A2 Architects and Alan Meredith Studio

Best International

Thapar University Student Accommodation, India by McCullough Mulvin

Future Award

John Monahan, Noji Architects

Sustainability

The Mews, Co. Dublin by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Architects Department

Universal Design

Newry Leisure Centre, Newry by Kennedy FitzGerald Architects LLP

Public Choice Award

Winner: 26 York Street, RCSI, Dublin, Henry J Lyons

2^nd Place: Scoil Phádraig, Westport, Co. Mayo by SJK Architects

3^rd Place: One Microsoft Place, Dublin, RKD Architects

Special Jury Award

No 14 Henrietta Street, Tenement Museum Dublin by Shaffrey Architects

Speaking at the event, David Browne, President, RIAI, said: “It’s very welcome that we had a record number of entries submitted this year as it demonstrates the range of great work being carried out by Irish architects both at home and abroad.  The standard was exceptionally high and I would like to heartily congratulate all of our winners on their success this evening.  The contribution that registered architects make to the built environment in which we live, work and relax cannot be underestimated and that shines through when you look at the range of design work that touches our lives, whether in housing, education, healthcare, public spaces and workplaces.”

The RIAI Irish Architecture Awards are sponsored by Gerflor, with additional support from Wink Lighting and Stewart Construction.