This prestigious award is presented to the project which is judged overall as an excellent example of best practice by professionals working in both the built and natural environments. Projects from across Northern Ireland won awards at a ceremony hosted by television presenter Paul Clark at the La Mon Hotel & Spa, Belfast, after 34 hugely diverse schemes were shortlisted in eight categories.
Winners were as follows:
- Building Conservation – The Tropical Ravine Belfast
- Commercial – Colby House, Belfast
- Community Benefit – St John Paul II Primary School, Belfast
- Design through Innovation – Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex
- Infrastructure – Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Station, Enniskillen
- Regeneration – Newry Leisure Centre
- Residential – Rathgill, Bangor
- Tourism & Leisure – Titanic Hotel Belfast
Two other projects were highly commended – the Connswater Community Greenway in the Community Benefit category and the Pump House, Portadown in the Regeneration category.
The Tropical Ravine was deemed “a model of best practice” by the judging panel who praised the work of the conservation team who nurtured it through dramatic change, enhancing its use while consistently respecting its historic fabric.
Michael Hannaway, Chair of the RICS Awards Northern Ireland judging panel, said, “These eight exciting winning schemes are all having an extremely positive impact on their local communities.
“The teams behind them have worked tirelessly and with incredible vision to create projects which provide tremendous benefit across areas as diverse and important as healthcare, education, housing, the workplace and tourism.
“Through collaborating with other professionals, local surveyors have shown that they have the talent to deliver exemplary and, in many cases, world-class built projects.” All category winners go on to compete against other regional winners at the national RICS Awards Grand Final in November.
