PROJECT FITZWILLIAM TRIUMPHS AT
IRISH CONCRETE SOCIETY AWARDS
Excellence in concrete design and construction was celebrated at this year’s event
This was the 40th annual awards evening which took place in the 50th anniversary year of the Society. Adjudicated by a distinguished, independent jury of industry professionals, the Awards recognise excellence in both design and construction in concrete. The event is always one of the highlights of the construction industry’s calendar and was attended by 240 on the night.
The main awards jury reviewed a total of 30 projects nominated in three categories of Infrastructure, Element and Building. There were also seven projects nominated for the 10th International Award, which is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland. In addition, the winner of the biennial Sculpture Award and recipient of the annual Sean de Courcy Student Award were announced.
Speaking at the awards evening, Chair Prof Roger West said: “Tonight is our opportunity to celebrate the ‘promotion of excellence in the use of concrete’ in all its forms, recognised in our Student, Sculpture, International, Infrastructure, Element and Building awards.The skill, talent and dedication of our predecessors in achieving excellence in concrete is exemplified in past winners of the awards. On this, the occasion of the Society’s 40th annual awards evening, we observe the continuing exceptionally high standard of concrete design and construction in Ireland, as mirrored in tonight’s award winners.”
The Main Awards
The main awards jury consisted of Valerie Mulvin (McCullough Mulvin Architects), Tim Murnane (Punch Consulting Engineers) and Ger Ronayne (JJ Rhatigan).
Building Category and Overall Winner: Project Fitzwilliam, Dublin
Chosen from a total of 11 building category entries and 30 entries for the Overall Award. Commenting on the project, the jury said: “More a city block than a project, a terrific addition to James Street East and a nod to the random familiarity of a Georgian street, behind the loadbearing brick of the third ESB building on this site, this project reveals high drama concrete slipform construction, structural gymnastics in hanging staircases and concrete Vierendeel trusses and finesse in the design and location of strategic precast concrete façade elements.
“The design team, contractors and subcontractors have beautifully crafted the materials and spaces to make a great environment for people to work in. Detailing is crisp, tightly controlled and well executed, exploiting the contrast between fine precast and rougher in-situ concrete. Geometric precision of details like the use of longer precast fins on the south courtyard facades brings complexity and interest to simple classic elements.”
Project Client: ESB
Project Architects: Grafton Architects/O’Mahony Pike Architects
Project Engineer:
O’Connor Sutton Cronin
Project Contractor: Admore Structures/P.J. Hegarty & Sons
Major Suppliers: Roadstone/Techrete
Infrastructure Category Winner: N22 Sullane and Laney River Bridges
Chosen from a total of nine projects entered.
Commenting on the project, the jury said: “The two river bridges of Laney and Sullane are impressive examples of the use of both in-situ and precast concrete. The W19 beams of the Laney and Sullane River Bridges are the longest in Ireland and the UK for both single and two span prestressed bridge beam structures at 50m and 98m respectively – both achievements are fine feats of engineering design and construction, while pushing the boundaries in the use of prestress concrete.
“This was achieved in an innovative manner by utilising the opportunities provided in the design code EC2 to maximise prestress concrete design efficiencies. Not only did this approach allow for longer span beams, it also allowed for significant savings in quantities of both concrete and steel. This is an excellent example of how investment in concrete design excellence results in material savings, which not only benefits the project budget, but also the environment.”
Project Client: Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Project Designer: Barry Transportation
Project Engineers: Barry Transportation/Martin Heffernan Consulting/Mott McDonald Project Contractor: Jons Civil Engineering –
John Cradock JV
Major Suppliers: Banagher Precast Concrete/Roadstone
Irish Concrete Society Awards – Winners
Infrastructure Category Highly Commended for Sustainability: Blanchardstown
Main Drainage
Element Category: National Surf Centre, Strandhill, Co. Sligo
10th International Award: Techrete for Osiers Road, London, UK
Sculpture Award: ‘Bile Buadha’ by Niamh McCann
Sean de Courcy Student Award: Méabh Childs, Trinity College Dublin, for her project titled ‘The role of notches in the bond behaviour of sustainable bamboo reinforced concrete’
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
