Design economy vibrant at Fit Out Awards 2017

Over 900 of Ireland’s finest design professionals gathered as the winners were announced

Thu, Nov 16, 2017, 11:00 Updated: Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 10:48

Sponsored by Business River

The Fit Out Awards attract the biggest names in Irish design and architecture each year and 2017 was no different.

The new Central Bank of Ireland Headquarters, Brown Thomas and Elizabeth's Tree House, Barretstown Camp were just some of the successful design projects at this year’s awards. Henry J. Lyons, one of Ireland’s leading architectural practices was very successful on the night bringing home three trophies for their work on the new Central Bank of Ireland building.

Speaking to Peter McGovern, director at Henry J. Lyons, he commented on their achievements, “Winning in three categories was absolutely thrilling. It was a hugely complicated project and we are particularly delighted for the client. The Central Bank was hugely supportive and encouraging of the wider team and this I have no doubt was a significant contributor to the overall success of the project”, said Peter.

The award for Outstanding Contribution was received by heneghan peng architects. Originating in New York and opening an Irish office in Dublin in 2001, heneghan peng architects is a design partnership practising architecture, landscape and urban design. Roisin Heneghan accepted the award to a standing ovation as she was warmly applauded to the stage. “Fit out in Ireland has been transformed in the last few years. The work that was presented at the Fit Out Awards created some wonderful spaces and we are honoured to be considered for the outstanding contribution,” said Roisin Heneghan, architect at heneghan peng architects.

An independent panel of judges from the Irish fit out industry reviewed the submissions of each entrant. Moderated by two judging coordinators, Ann Marie Aguilar - director of UK/EMEA client relations for the Well Faculty at the IWBI and Angela Connolly - president, Interiors Association, founder, Conbu Interior Design, the judges were industry leaders who brought their extensive knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise to the judging process ensuring that the winning entries were outstanding.

The Overall Fit Out Project of the Year was awarded to Slack European Headquarters submitted by ODOS Architects. Dave O’Shea, founder and creative director of ODOS architects spoke about how thrilled they were to receive the recognition for two awards on the night, “Winning the overall fit out of the year award for Slack’s EMEA HQ in Dublin is testament to a number of key factors, the brevity and trust of our wonderful client coupled with our design team's vision and unswerving persistence to deliver a unique office experience which would raise the bar in office design on a world scale.”

NODA picked up the award Fit Out Project of the Year – Hospitality for their cutting edge design at the Red Cow Hotel for Moran Hotels. Nikki O’Donnell who leads the design team said, “The client went with us and invested in a vision to bring exciting design ideas to the hotel for its growing corporate client base. Winning the award recognises the collective effort and is a great result for everyone involved.”

Launched six years ago, the Fit Out Awards have grown in scale each year and companies from all over Ireland come together, network and collaborate. SAS International have sponsored the awards over the past few years. “We champion aspirational design and we are proud to sponsor the best in Irish architecture through the awards”, said Cathal McGuinness, director of SAS International.

This year's winners are:

1. Fit Out Project of the Year
Sponsored by SAS International
Winner: Slack European Headquarters

Cathal McGuinness, Director, SAS International presents the Fit Out Project of the Year award to the ODOS Architects team

2. Outstanding Contribution Award
Sponsored by Airconmech
Winner: heneghan peng architects

John Dempsey & Jim Mullett, Managing Directors, AirconMech presents the Outstanding Contribution Award to Róisín Heneghan, heneghan peng architects

3. Fit Out Design Practice of the Year
Sponsored by Walls Construction
Winner: MILLIMETRE DESIGN

James O’Toole, Fit-out Director, Walls Construction presents the Fit Out Design Practice of the Year award to the MILLIMETRE DESIGN team

4. Fit Out Contractor of the Year
Sponsored by Etag
Winner: mac

Damian Lynch, Managing Director, Etag Fixings presents the Fit Out Contractor of the Year award to David Caulfield and Tiffany Quinn

5. Fit Out Professional Consultancy of the Year
Sponsored by Ardmac
Winner: Turner & Townsend

Alan Coakley, MD, Ardmac presents the Fit Out Professional Consultancy of the Year award to the Turner & Townsend team

6. Fit Out Sub-Contractor of the Year
Sponsored by Storage Systems
Winner: Designer Group

Niall Rock, Managing Director, Storage Systems presents the Fit Out Sub-Contractor of the Year award to Niall Stone & Niall Treacy, Designer Group

7. Fit Out Project Management Firm of the Year
Sponsored by The Interiors Group
Winner: Turner & Townsend

Trevor Schwer, MD, The Interiors Group, presents the Fit Out Management Firm of the Year award to the Turner & Townsend team

8. Fit Out Client of the Year
Sponsored by StructureTone
Winner: CRH

Richard Hemming, MD, StructureTone, presents the Fit Out Client of the Year award to the CRH & Henry J. Lyons teams

9. Fit Out Designer of the Year
Sponsored by Vescom
Winner: Barry McCabe – McCabe Design Group

Stephen Pierce, Senior Area Manager, Ireland, Vescom Wallcoverings & Fabrics, presents the Fit Out Designer of the Year award to Barry McCabe, McCabe Design Group.

10. Young Fit Out Designer of the Year
Sponsored by T&I Fit Outs
Winner: Neal Merry – Ethos Engineering

Ben Lambe, Director, T&I Fitouts presents the Young Fit Out Designer of the Year award to Neal Merry, Ethos Engineering

11. Fit Out Project Manager of the Year
Sponsored by The FKM Group
Winner: Ciaran McArdle – Cogent Associates

Lorraine Carlisle, CEO, The FKM Group presents the Fit Out Project Manager of the Year award to Ciaran McArdle, Cogent Associates

12. Fit Out Project of the Year – Large Office
Sponsored by Walls To Workstation Optima
Winner: Central Bank of Ireland

Chris Pae, Senior Accounts Manager, Optima Products, presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Large Office award to the Henry J. Lyons team

13. Fit Out Project of the Year – Medium Office
Sponsored by Walls To Workstations Knoll
Winner: Slack European Headquarters

David Cunningham, Director, Knoll International, presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Medium Office award to the ODOS Architects team

14. Fit Out Project of the Year – Small Office over €500K
Sponsored by Linear Office Contracting
Winner: Whitaker Court

Adrian Tamas, MD, Linear Office Contracting presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Small Office over €500K award to the Whitaker Court project team

15. Fit Out Project of the Year – Small Office under €500K
Sponsored by Hunt Office Interiors
Winner: BARD ClearStream Beta Office, Wexford

Martin Johnston, Interiors Director, Hunt Office Interiors, presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Small Office under €500K award to Sharon & Cathal O'Leary, O'Leary Sludds Architects

16. Fit Out Project of the Year – Office New Build
Sponsored by Ethos Engineering
Winner: Central Bank of Ireland

Greg Hayden, MD, Ethos Engineering, presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Office New Build award to the Central Bank of Ireland Project team

17. Fit Out Project of the Year – Retail
Sponsored by Castlerock
Winner: Brown Thomas

Richard Flood, Managing Director, Castlerock presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Retail award to the McCabe McGinn, Brown Thomas & Fiontar Safety Management project teams

18. Fit Out Project of the Year – International
Sponsored by Unispace
Winner: West Corner Diner, Manchester

Sarah McDonnel, Principal, Unispace presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – International award to Dara Mulhern, Damien Culligan & Justin Kinsella, Harcourt Architects

19. Fit Out Project of the Year – Public Sector
Sponsored by CRM Interior Fit Outs
Winner: Central Bank of Ireland

Robbie Hamilton, Managing Director, CRM Interior Fit-Outs presents the Fit Out Project of the Year –
Public Sector award to the Henry J. Lyons team — Robbie Hamilton, Managing Director, CRM Interior Fit-Outs presents the Fit Out Project of the Year – Public Sector award to the Henry J. Lyons team

20. Fit Out Project of the Year – Hospitality
Sponsored by McKeon Group
Winner: Red Cow Moran Hotel

Tomás Mac Eoin, MD, McKeon Group presents the Fit Out Project of the Year - Hospitality award to the NODA Architects team

21. Excellence in Collaboration
Sponsored by Tech Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Winner: Priority Collaboration Service - Specialist Joinery Group