The 2017 Irish Concrete Society’s Awards Evening highlighted Excellence in the design and construction in concrete.

This was the prestigious 35^th Awards Evening and the event is always one of the highlights in the construction industry’s calendar with some 280 of industry’s finest in attendance. The Awards recognise excellence in both design and construction in concrete and are adjudicated by an independent jury of industry professionals. The main awards jury reviewed a total of twenty-six projects nominated in three categories of main awards – Elemental, Infrastructure and Building. There were seven projects nominated for the 5^th Irish Concrete Society International Award, which is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland. The winner of the annual Sean de Courcy Student Prize was also announced.

The main awards jury consisted of Frank Lee, Consulting Engineer, Peter Dudley, Scott Tallon Walker Architects and Eden Keane, SIAC Construction.

Winner – Building Category and Overall Winner

St. Angela’s College, Cork

Chosen from a total of 12 category entries and 26 entries for overall award.

Project team members for St. Angela’s College accepting their award from Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society) (L-R) David McCarthy (L&M Keating), Henrik Wolterstorff (O’Donnell + Tuomey), Lorcan Hoyne (L&M Keating), Jeana Gearty (O’Donnell + Tuomey), John Lee (Malachy Walsh & Partners).

Jury Quote:

“The internal walls and ceilings in this building are predominantly fair faced exposed concrete. That might conjure up a cold and dark environment in many minds. Yet the head of the establishment is quoted as saying that “……the building is a pleasure to come in to. There is fun in the design. Light fills the corridors. … there are lovely social spaces.” The 18m level difference between the top and the bottom of the site has resulted in a linked series of buildings which the architects liken to a “hill town”.

The architects’ and engineers’ choice for an exposed internal structure was insitu concrete made with local limestone and cement chosen to give a light colour, while the other common local rock – red sandstone – was used for external paths and paving. The exposed concrete quality is uniformly smooth and consistent. Formwork joints intersections and shutter tie locations are all planned and executed in exemplary manner. Even a 9m high wall single pour was kept to that standard.”

Project Client:             Department of Education and Skills
Project Engineer:       Malachy Walsh and Partners
Project Architect:       O’Donnell + Tuomey
Project Contractor:    L&M Keating
Major Suppliers:        Lagan Concrete / Claramore Construction

Winner – Infrastructure Award: Newlands Cross Flyover, Dublin

Project Client:              NRA / TII
Project Engineer:        ARUP / RPS / Mott MacDonald
Project Contractor:     BAM Contractors
Major Supplier:            Shay Murtagh Precast / Paul Mulcair Ltd / Roadstone

Winner – Elemental Category: Feature Stairs and Gallery, Donegal

Project Client:                 Private
Project Designer:           Michael McBride Architectural Services
Project Engineer:           Carr & Company Civil Engineers
Project Contractor:        Denis Diver
Major Suppliers:            Muckish Sand & Gravel / Noel & Stanley Tease 

John Reddy, (Queen’s University Belfast student), Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society), Mrs Sheila DeCourcy (widow of Sean DeCourcy).

Sean De Courcy Student Award

Winner:  John Reddy, Queen’s University Belfast

Project title: Thermal Activation of Low Carbon Precast Concrete

Kristin Sophia Kuckelkorn, Trinity College, Dublin received a high commendation for “Heat discharge through forced cooling of phase change materials in concrete panels”