One of Galway’s top construction companies has won an award for the excellence of its use of concrete in a local bulding project.
Duane Construction, based in Ardrahan was named as the winner of the award in the Elemental Category for its use of concrete in the decelopment of Canal House in Galway City.
The award was granted for the “functional and beautiful” use of concrete in the design. The judges were fulsome in their praise of the project which they said was complex.
“Concrete is successfully used in this extension of a 1920s townhouse with very challenging site conditions. The boundaries between inside and out are blurred using the plasticity of concrete to create sculptural space and forms that are both functional and beautiful.
“The complexity of the in-situ concrete construction, coupled with the quality of the finish for this relatively small project is a credit to the contractor and adds significantly to the overall built project.”
Duane Construction, driven by owner Sean Duane, have built some of the most iconic buldings in Galway in the past decade, including the BAL, Galway Bay fm studios and a wide range of luxury private dwellings across the city and county.
Excellence in the design and construction in concrete was evident again at this year’s Irish Concrete Society’s awards evening, which took place in the Conrad Hotel, Dublin.
This was the 34rd awards evening and the event is always one of the highlights of the construction industry’s calendar with 250 of the construction industry’s finest in attendance.
The awards recognise excellence in both design and construction in concrete. The jury reviewed a total of 26 projects entered in three categories of main awards - Elemental, Infrastructure and Building. The 4th Irish Concrete Society International Award, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, was also awarded in addition to the annual Sean de Courcy Student Prize and the biennial Sculpture Award.
The main awards jury consisted of Philippe O’Sullivan of Grafton Architects, Jim Sherry of Mott MacDonald and John Pentony of Jons Civil Engineering
The Irish Concrete Society is a learned society founded in 1973 to support and encourage technical excellence in concrete. It is a cross-sectorial, independent, impartial, science based organisation. With membership open to all who have an interest in concrete.
The Society acts as a focal point for industry debate, research, education, standards development in the field of concrete technology, design and construction. The Society is a not for profit organisation funded by membership and services it provides.
