London-based architects IDOM UK are the winners of a major international competition to provide a "development vision" for the North Quays in Waterford.
The brief for the competition, drawn up by the Office of Public Works, envisaged a mixed development scheme for the site, including apartments, offices, light industrial units, a hotel and a landmark venue building.
There was an "overwhelming" response to the competition, said the OPW, with entries from architects in several European countries, the US, Canada and Japan, as well as from many Irish firms.
"The judges were delighted with the superb quality of the designs for the Venue building, the quality of the living and working environment being created and the potential for commercial viability being proposed."
Mr Tom Parlon, Minister of State in charge of the OPW, said he has no doubt the development proposed by the winning architects "has the potential to be of huge benefit to the south-east region".
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, who initiated the project last April, will open a week-long exhibition of a selection of the entries at the Waterford Institute of Technology on Friday.
Of the prize fund of €500,000, the winners - IDOM UK, of Dock Street, London - received €250,000. Second prize of €125,000 went to another London-based firm, Benson and Forsyth, architects of the National Gallery's Millennium Wing.
The third prize of €75,000 went to PLH Arkitekter of Copenhagen, and the fourth prize of €50,000 was won by BDP Dublin. Of the 41 entries selected for exhibition, 14 come from Irish architectural practices, including three in Waterford.