Design awards demonstrate variety and vitality of Irish architecture

Áras Chill Dara

Now in their seventh year, over 150 projects were submitted this year for the Opus awards frrom city museums to county halls and residential housing to education centres. A total of eight project teams were presented with a winning award across the five categories and a number of commended and highly-commended were also awarded. Student awards and a new timber award were also recognised. Entries were open to all architects and building contractors working in and on buildings completed throughout Ireland from September 1 to end August 2006.

All shortlisted sites were visited by the judges. The awards were presented by the chairman of the judging panel, award winning architect Ciaran O'Connor. The awards presentation was staged by Construction Industry Federation and Expo Exhibitions, organisers of Plan Expo. All winning designs of the Opus awards will be on display at Plan Expo showcase which takes place at the RDS from tomorrow to Saturday. The 2006 judging panel with chairman Ciaran O'Connor were: Noel Dowley FRIAI; Roger Dunwoody, md emeritus of Dunwoody & Dobson; Eugene Cleary, joint managing director, Cleary Doyle; and Pearse Sutton, founding partner of O'Connor Sutton Cronin Consulting Engineers.

Under €750,000 Award

Commended: Southern Comfort, 3 Killiney View, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Box Architecture Ltd / Britz Construction Management

Highly Commended: Beechfield, Strand Road, Termonfeckin, Co Louth.
McGarry NíÉanaigh Architects / SFH Construction Ltd

Award Winner: 13A Thor Place, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7.
ODOS Architects / CKC Ltd.

Award Winner: Refurbishment & Extension, 102 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Bone O'Donnell Architects / Robert Doyle Construction Ltd.

Award Winner: Addition to a Period House, Summerhill Parade, Sandycove, Co Dublin.
DTA Architects / Mick Deevy Construction.

Under €7m Award

Commended: Residential Community Building for the Sisters of Mercy, Mater Hospital, Dublin 7.
MCO Architects / M&P Construction.

Commended: Teachers Resource & Learning Centre, Sandford Park School, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
DTA Architects / Kingston Construction Ltd.

Award Winner: The Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch, Galway city.
Office of Public Works / John Sisk & Son Ltd.

Over €7m Award

Commended: Diagnostic Hub, Endoscopy Unit & Link Building, Bon Secours Hospital, Glasnevin, Dublin 9,
Burke-Kennedy Doyle Architects / Bowen Construction Ltd.

Commended: Scotch Hall, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Douglas Wallace Architects / John Sisk & Sons Ltd.

Highly Commended: The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1.
Laughton Tyler Architects / Rogerson Redden Associates.

Highly Commended: City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork.
Scott Tallon Walker Architects / PJ Hegarty & Sons Ltd.

Highly Commended: Nurses Education Building, Waterford Institute of Technology, Cork Road
A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects / Cleary Doyle Contracting Ltd.

Award Winner: Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas Road, Co Kildare.
Heneghan Peng Architects & Arthur Gibney & Partners / Pierse Contracting.

Award Winner: Redevelopment of Cork County Hall, Cork
Shay Cleary Architects / Rohcon Ltd.

Award Winner: The Marine Institute, Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway.
Office of Public Works / John Sisk & Sons Ltd.

Housing Award

Award Winner: St Gerald's Court, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.
MV Cullinan Architects / Burns Construction.

Award Winner: Nos 5, 6 & 7 Church Lane, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Cloonan O'Donnell & Carew Kelly Architects / Carragoon Construction.

Heritage Award

Highly-Commended: Cobh Social Welfare Office, Cobh, Co Cork.
Office of Public Works / Cumman Construction.

Highly-Commended: Belvedere Orphage Housing, Tyrellspass, Co Westmeath.
deBlacam & Meagher / Oliver Donlon Developments.

Student Award

Commended: Louise Souter, UCD.
Commended: Michael Bradley, DIT.
Commended: Jane Larmour, UCD.
Commended: Leigh Ann Daly, DIT.
Commended: Niamh NíMhorain, DIT.
Highly-Commended: Sara King, DIT.
Highly-Commended: Hugo Lamont, DIT.
Award Winner: Laurence Lord, DIT.
Award Winner: Martin McCauley, Queens University.
Award Winner: Emma McGloin, DIT.

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