The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan voted the public’s favourite building at the RIAI Awards 2024
The RIAI is delighted to announce the winner of the prestigious RIAI Public Choice Award. With over 20,000 votes cast by the general public, this year's winner is The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Fingal, by Stephen Foley Architects and CAMPUS.
The overwhelming support reflects the project's outstanding contribution to the built environment and its resonance with the community.
RIAI President, Sean Mahon FRIAI, said
"The level of public engagement this year has been extraordinary, and I want to extend a warm congratulations to both the winner, and the runners up. The Lark Concert Hall truly exemplifies the excellence and innovation that the RIAI Public Choice Award stands for. With a record number of votes cast and a growing level of interest in the Public Choice Award, we can see the increasing public recognition of how quality architecture has the power to improve lives and shape the society we envision. Together, we are building a better future, one thoughtfully designed space at a time.”
Castleblayney Library and Market Square Regeneration (2nd Place) by Craftstudio Architecture with Gaffney and Cullivan Architects and Kinsale Library (3rd Place) by Cork County Council Architects’ Department were the runners up among 42 projects competing for the public vote.
The RIAI Public Choice Award seeks to find and subsequently honour Ireland’s favourite building or public space. This year’s shortlist featured 42 entries, which included nine stunning houses (new build and old), public housing projects by local authorities, workplaces, libraries, a distillery as well as innovative adaptions of buildings which hold great historical value.
The RIAI Irish Architecture Awards will take place later today at the National Gallery of Ireland. The Awards celebrate buildings across all areas of our built environment, from small rural communities to our towns and urban centres. This year’s theme places an emphasis on sustainability, focusing on the reuse, repair, adaptation and retrofit of our existing buildings as key to addressing climate change.
A full list of winners will be announced later this evening, following the awards ceremony.
The RIAI Awards 2024 are proudly supported by our Awards Gold Sponsor Sika Ireland.
For more information, please contact:
- Olivia Hayden, Drury – olivia.hayden@drury.ie / 085 180 6367
- Saara Nevala-Bergin, Drury – saara.nevala-bergin@drury.ie / 089 608 0927
- Dr Sandra O’Connell, Director of Communications, RIAI, soconnell@riai.ie/(01) 676 1703
About RIAI:
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the professional and registration body for Architects in Ireland. We support and regulates the architectural profession and promotes the value that architecture brings to society for everyone’s benefit. We work to ensure high standards for consumer protection and have over 3,300 Registered Architects in Ireland. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for regular updates: @RIAIonline