Voting for Ireland’s favourite building or public space opens today, as the 2026 RIAI Public Choice Awards are launched

The search for Ireland’s favourite building or public space begins today with the launch of the 2026 RIAI Public Choice Awards. 44 projects have been shortlisted for this year's award, which features projects from 12 counties as well as six international projects by Irish architects. The public has until 5pm on the 15 June to cast their vote for this year’s winner.

The Public Choice Award is unique in that it is the only architectural award in the country decided by public vote. It is an opportunity for the public to reflect on how well-designed buildings and places can positively impact the quality of their daily lives by carefully considering the needs of our communities.

In total, the RIAI received 174 entries across categories such as public use, urban design, conservation, adaptation and re-use, housing and sustainability. Five architectural research projects were also shortlisted for the RIAI Awards and will be recognised in the awards presentation on 18 June. Last year’s awards were tightly contested, with 14,000 votes cast by the public.

Architecture and Design: Shaping our Lives

This year’s shortlist powerfully illustrates how architects shape the quality of everyday life, not just in individual buildings, but in the collective civic fabric of our country. The projects showcase how excellent architecture and design can determine the success and long-term value of public infrastructure projects.

The shortlist includes education projects such as the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland’s new building on St Stephen’s Green and a state-of-the-art special educational needs school in Letterkenny, which display how exceptional architecture elevates the daily learning, health, and lives of citizens. The inclusion of Barretstown Medical Centre and other important medical sites is an example of how smart design influences the delivery of critical healthcare services. The conservation and reopening of the Magazine Fort in Dublin’s Phoenix Park shows how architects can transform once-inaccessible sites into vibrant and active public spaces.

RIAI President, Fionnuala May said, “From health and education to heritage and housing, this year’s awards demonstrate how outstanding architecture actively shapes the success of public buildings, infrastructure projects and places where we live. This is an excellent opportunity for the public to reflect on how public buildings and designed spaces impact on their enjoyment and quality of their daily lives. These awards show that good architecture is more than beautiful design, it is a societal investment – one that delivers lasting cultural, social, and economic returns for our society.”

Visit Public Choice Award to cast your vote and learn more about the shortlisted projects.

Shortlisted buildings and places

1. Annex Building, Iarnród Éireann HQ by Iarnród Éireann Architects
2. Barretstown Medical Centre by McCauley Daye O'Connell Architects
3. Bellevue Heights by REIR Studio
4. Blackrock Park Teahouse by 7L Architects
5. Bóithrín na Saoirse by desiun Architects
6. Bon Secours Hospital by Reddy A+U and HOK (Design Architect)
7. Central Hotel by McCullough Mulvin Architects
8. Convent Lands Supported Housing by OBFA
9. Cruit Island by Pasparakis Friel
10. East Meath Civic Centre by Robin Lee Architecture
11. Glin Court Housing by Paul Keogh Architects
12. Google Bolands Mills by Henry J Lyons and Gustafson Porter + Bowman
13. Greenville Terrace by Rachel Carmody Design
14. Havelock by Scullion Architects
15. Housing at Clonliffe Road by Seán Harrington Architects
16. Howth DART Station Canopy by Iarnród Éireann Architects and FKP Architects, Grade 1 Conservation Architect Consultant 
17. Ireland House Tokyo by Henry J Lyons
18. Ireland's Pavilion at Expo 2025 by Office of Public Works
19. Kilsaran Headquarters by ABK Architects
20. Komorebi by ConForm Architects
21. Leeson Lane Office Building by Office of Public Works
22. Magazine Fort, Phoenix Park by Office of Public Works
23. Monaghan Town THRIVE Regeneration Plan by John McLaughlin Architects
24. n2 by Lynch Architects
25. New Special Educational Needs School, Letterkenny by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects
26. Offices at Earlsfort Terrace by Lawrence and Long Architects
27. O-House by Lawrence and Long Architects
28. O'Reilly's Public House by Lawrence and Long Architects
29. Páirc Aonaigh by van Dijk Architects
30. Pembroke Cottages by REIR Studiob
31. Project Connect, RCSI by Henry J Lyons
32. Quayside Water Sports Centre by Urban Agency Architects
33. Royal Hospital Kilmainham North Range by Office of Public Works in conjunction with 7L Architects
34. Shackleton Experience by OBFA
35. Shanganagh Castle Estate by ABK Architects
36. Squaring the Circle by McCullough Mulvin Architects
37. Stonemount Park by Davey Smith Architects
38. Storm King Art Center by heneghan peng architects and WXY Architecture and Urbanism
39. Student Residence at Fenian Street by Lawrence and Long Architects
40. Surgical Hub North Dublin by O'Connell Mahon Architects
41. The Weir Housing by Seán Harrington Architects
42. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority HQ by Bucholz McEvoy Architects and ZAS Architects
43. University of Limerick Student Centre by Cotter & Naessens Architects
44. Vantage Business Park by Gottstein Architects

Research projects on the RIAI Awards Shortlist

1. Computational Conservation: Bridging the Domain Gap in Historic Building Data by David Hughes FRIAI
2. Embodied Carbon by Henry J Lyons
3. Industrial Heritage of Brackenstown Walled Gardens by John McLaughlin Architects
4. UPGRADE+UPSKILL Research & Training Initiative: Energy Renovation of Heritage Properties in State Care by Office of Public Works
5. Vacant-to-Vibrant (Part 1) Barriers of the Building Regulations to Existing Building Reuse by Triona Stack MRIAI, UCD School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy

RIAI Awards Jury 2026

Seán Moylan FRIAI, Chair; Máire Henry MRIAI, Vice Chair; Frances Ruane, Chairperson, National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, Distinguished Guest Juror; Paul Durcan MRIAI; Vicky Landy FRIAI; Nigel Murray MRIAI; Owen O’Doherty MRIAI; Fionnuala Rogerson FRIAI; Sally Starbuck FRIAI; Poppy Van Dijk MRIAI

For all media queries, please contact Melanie McDonald, Red Flag Global, E: melanie.mcdonald@redflag.global, M: 086 047 4531