Choose the Nation’s Favourite Building – from Workplaces to Wellbeing Spaces, and from Homes to New Public Spaces for Outdoor Enjoyment

Dublin, June 18, 2021: The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has launched the Public Choice vote for Ireland’s favourite building or place or public space in 2021.

The Public Choice Award is the kick-off of the annual RIAI Architecture Awards, now in their 32nd year, which celebrate excellence in the design and delivery of buildings. Award categories include Adaption & Re-Use, Cultural or Public Buildings, Learning Environments, Wellbeing, Public Spaces, Workplaces and Living, as well as projects delivered internationally by Irish Architects.

There are 39 projects on this year’s shortlist, all of which were designed by RIAI-registered architects and were completed in 2020. This year, there is widespread regional representation with buildings located across the country in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Offaly, Sligo, Wicklow as well as internationally in the UK and the Punjab, India.

Online voting is now open, and all of the Public Choice projects are available to view on the RIAI website at www.riai.ie. Voting closes at midnight on Friday, 2nd July. 

Ciaran O’Connor, RIAI President, said: “We are delighted with the level of entry to the awards this year, despite the challenges imposed by COVID-19 we received 144 entries. The quality of the submissions was exceptionally high, and this demonstrates the value that Irish architects are adding to all aspects of the built environment, supporting Ireland’s economic and social structure. I would encourage members of the public to log on to our website and have their say about their favourite project. We encourage everyone to participate in this campaign and vote for their favourite project. Voting closes on midnight on Friday, July 2nd.”

Among the projects for the public to consider are: the adaption and reuse of the Broadstone Bus Garage in Dublin and a Garda Station in Donegal; the development of new public space in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, a direct response to the pandemic, the fit-out of Dublin Stock Exchange, a National School in Galway, as well as a range of refurbished homes and housing developments across the country.

The 2020 RIAI Irish Architecture Public Choice award winner was ‘Tooting Meadow’ housing development in Drogheda, Co. Louth, designed by McKevitt King Architects.

Proudly supported by a number of Category Sponsors, the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards will be announced in full later in the year.  See www.riai.ie for further details.