The Irish Times

Now in its fifth year, the Plan Expo Opus Building Awards scheme prides itself on being concerned not just with aesthetics, but also on assessing new buildings on whether they are "embellished by use, rather than embarrassed by it". The Opus jury is also somewhat more generous than the AAI's or even the RIAI's panels. For example, there are five winners in the "Over €3.75 million" category, and two winners in the student category, though only one in each of the others.nThis year's winners, chosen from a record 130 entries from all over Ireland, include several familiar projects such as the Ussher Library in Trinity College, The Helix in Dublin City University and the new County Hall in Tullamore, Co Offaly.