Headline: St. Angela’s College, Cork wins overall award at the Irish Concrete Society’s 35th Annual Awards Release Date: 12

th April 2016

Excellence in the design and construction in concrete was evident again at this year’s Irish Concrete Society’s Awards Evening, which took place on the 8

th of April in Croke Park.

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. 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 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 Chosen from a total of 6 projects entered. Jury Quote: “It would be hard to find another project where the brief required the contractor to deal with the passage of 80,000 vehicles per day through the construction area. Provision of traffic routes alongside and through the building works was a complex and noteworthy exercise in itself. 1300 limestone faced precast concrete panels faced are anchored back into the embankments (in the “Reinforced Earth” system). They were used on either side of the raised roadway, where more conventional site cast concrete retaining walls would have served the same function but taken much longer to build. Two 28m spans of precast concrete bridge beams carry the 6 lane N7 over the R113 Fonthill / Belgard Road crossing. Precast concrete beams weighing 52 tons support the span beams on the columns of the central island below. Concrete finishes throughout are excellent. “ 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 Chosen from a total of 8 entries Jury Quote: “Concrete because of its initially fluid nature can be shaped into a myriad of forms. Most could be termed mundane or practical, others can be indulgent. The element in question is in the Jury’s opinion a delightful blend of the two. Its shape is a testament to the imagination of its architect, and to the man from Tory Island whose custom-made formwork brought the design into three-dimensional reality. Additional skills were brought to bear in producing finished concrete so white and polished that it is initially hard to believe it is in fact concrete. Structurally the analysis of the element’s ability to carry load is complex, and it is no surprise that the engineer load tested it to check deflection.” 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 Winner of the 5

th International Award “Techrete for Victoria Gate, Leeds”

An award that recognises Irish companies who export product or service off the island of Ireland. The Award reflects the growing emphasis on export for all in Irish construction and is sponsored by Enterprise Ireland. The Jury included Ken Aherne, John Sisk and Son, Joe Kennedy of Smith Kennedy Architects and Robert Geragthy from Enterprise Ireland. Chosen from a total of 7 entries. Jury Quote: “For its use of modern technology in the design process, and BIM 3D software to direct the CNC cutting machines for mould-making, for the achievement of the highest standards in quality control and production of each of the individual units, for the novel and innovative method of transporting and handling theses unique precast units, coupled with the difficult onsite installation process, and for delivering an outstanding end-product for a marquee and high-profile Client.” Project Title: Victoria Gate, Leeds Irish Supplier: Techrete A high commendation was awarded to Graton Architects with University Campus in Lima Peru. Sean De Courcy Student Award This is an award given to the best master’s project on a concrete-related topic from the engineering faculties of the third level institutions. The award is named after the late Sean de Courcy, an inspirational professor for many years at UCD, a former chairman of the Irish Concrete Society, an author and historian of note. 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" About the Irish Concrete Society The Irish Concrete Society is a learned society founded in 1973 to support and encourage technical excellence in concrete. It is a cross-sectorial, independent, impartial, science based organisation. With membership open to all who have an interest in concrete. The Society acts as a focal point for industry debate, research, education, standards development in the field of concrete technology, design and construction. The Society is a not for profit organisation funded by membership and services it provides.

Images available include: (larger images available for print)

Building and Overall Award winning entry – St. Angela’s College, Cork

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).

Infrastructure Category Winner – Newlands Cross Flyover, Dublin

Project team members for Newlands Cross Flyover accepting their award from Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society) (L-R) Joe Shinkwin (Mott MacDonald), Barry Williams (Mott MacDonald), Albert Daly (NRA / TII), Thomas Holden (Roadstone), Daniel Keating (ARUP), Liam McGovern (Shay Murtagh Precast), Kieran Ruane (RPS).

Elemental Category Winner – Feature Stairs and Gallery, Donegal

Project team members for “Feature Stairs and Gallery” accepting their award from Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society (L-R) Michael McBride (Michael McBride Architectural Services), Patrick Galvin (Carr & Company Civil Engineers), Denis Diver.

5

th International Award winner – Victoria Gate, Leeds. Irish Company: Techrete.

(L-R) Vivian Hand (Techrete), Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society),

(L-R) John Reddy, (Queen’s University Belfast student), Jim Mansfield (Chairman of the Society), Mrs Sheila DeCourcy (widow of Sean DeCourcy). Media Contact Information Irish Concrete Society, Platin, Drogheda, Co. Louth (041) 9876466 Executive Officer: Henry Kerr, hkerr@concrete.ie, (086) 0445681