Building projects in running for award

Building projects in running for award

20 February 2019

THREE local projects have been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors awards.

They are among a record 36 of Northern Ireland’s most innovative and community beneficial property projects that have captured the hearts of the judges and will now go on to compete in eight categories at this year’s awards ceremony at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel in May.

The award categories include building conservation, commercial, community benefit, design through innovation, infrastructure, regeneration, residential and tourism and leisure.

Locally, the three projects bidding for glory are the Mourne Wall restoration project, which has been shortlisted in the building conservation category, Castlewellan’s Corriewood Private Clinic, which has been shortlisted in the infrastructure category, and The Courtyards at Montalto in Ballynahinch, which is running for the top award in the tourism and leisure category.

The iconic Mourne Wall is Northern Ireland’s longest listed building. The recent 22 mile restoration project — which was completed ahead of schedule –  involving the repair of  2,400 metres of drystone granite wall crossing 15 mountain peaks. 

The boulder wall is a highly regarded and exceptional landmark and plays an important role environmentally and navigationally to the 100,000 walkers that visit the area. 

Working in a Special Area of Conservation, Area of Special Scientific Interest and the heart of an Area of Outstanding Beauty, old traditional methods were merged with modern innovation to overcome challenges and deliver the project in a sensitive manner.

The Grade 2 Corriewood Private Clinic in Castlewellan, which enjoys protected status, has been shortlisted in the infrastructure category.

A major investment resulted in a new extension to provide a purpose-built facility that caters for the individual needs of many infirm patients suffering from dementia. 

The extension resulted in the creation of four new wings which includes a seven-bed palliative care suite, chapel of rest, a 15-bedroom block next to the original building and a 36-bedroom block featuring a wheelchair accessible roof garden.

Meanwhile, the stunning visitor centre and café located at The Courtyards at the sprawling estate in Ballynahinch was completed late last year.

The visitor centre is also home to a stylish 120-seat café and a shop offering estate and locally sourced food and products. It offers a high quality visitor experience in a stunning environment. The project was undertaken by Downpatrick firm Hugh J. O’Boyle Ltd.

All category winners are also competing for the acclaimed Northern Ireland Project of the Year title, awarded to the scheme that demonstrates outstanding best practice and an exemplary commitment to adding value to its local area. 

The annual awards highlight the great talent involved in shaping the Northern Ireland built environment for now and the future.

Awards chairman Michael Hannaway said the awards celebrated and recognised the community impact the shortlisted projects are having on their local communities, as well as the talent and collaboration of the teams behind them.

“Some of the shortlisted projects have helped to attract more visitors and inward investment, whilst others have provided much-needed housing or vital services and infrastructure to their communities,” he explained.

“The teams behind them should be extremely proud as many were delivered on time and within budget and with sustainability at the heart, to ensure they are as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.”

All Northern Ireland winners will go forward to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards grand final in November for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective categories.