Murray Ó Laoire Architects has been awarded recognition for its work on the recently completed Health Sciences Complex at University College Dublin at the Bank of Ireland Opus Architecture & Construction Awards 2008, which took place at a gala lunch in the newly-refurbished Concert Hall at the RDS, Dublin on Tuesday 4 November.
There were eight categories in total at these Opus Architecture & Construction Awards, including 'The Art in Architecture Award', 'Lifetime Achievement Award' and 'Bank of Ireland Opus Architecture & Construction Heritage Award (Conservation & Restoration)'. Among the eight winners, the UCD Health Sciences Complex was a recipient of an award in the 'Buildings Over €20 million' category.
These awards recognise excellence in design and construction by architects and contractors. The judging process involves two initial sessions in which the five expert judges assess entries and draft a short list. Short listed entries are visited individually to allow assessors to view the buildings first hand. The assessors report stated:
"The site visit to this building won it an award. Photographs and drawings were unable to convey its intrinsic qualities.
The building’s real strength lies in its internal spaces. Its careful understatement belies a very humane design skill that is much appreciated by its users”
UCD Health Sciences Complex was also, earlier this year, highly commended in two categories in the 2008 RIAI Awards.
- RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2008 (Best Educational Building Category), Highly Commended
- RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2008 (Best Sustainable Project Category), Highly Commended
The UCD Health Sciences Complex houses various disciplines within the College of Life Sciences which incorporates the former Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Diagnostic Imaging and Physiotherapy. The design of the laboratories was a result of an intensive collaborative process with the end users. Key staff members in the various disciplines attended a series of workshops with the design team to ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach to the design. The range of facilities provided includes simulated hospital wards; clinical skills laboratories; a radiology suite; anatomy plastination & dissection facilities; an electrotherapy suite; a gym; a movement analysis laboratory; and numerous general purpose biology laboratories.
The complex was designed by MÓLA with the intention of maximising space and light, and to promote a fresh learning atmosphere condusive to furthering the development of the multi-disciplinary teams necessary in medicine today.
This is MÓLA's 5th Opus Award winning project, the UCD Health Sciences Complex is also the 9th MOLA project to be shortlisted in the past five years.
Limerick County Courthouse, Carton House, GMIT Learning Resource Centre and Bon Secours Hospital in Galway have all been previous winners in their respective categories.