Midlands Construction companies and projects are celebrating after winning ICE Awards at a gala ceremony in the Convention Centre Dublin. The Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE Awards) are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for construction in Ireland. The awards provide an opportunity for the industry to highlight and reward excellent performance across the full range of construction disciplines and project categories. Midland Steel were winners in two categories, Longford’s Kiernan Steel were triumphant in the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Initiative category, while the Esker Art’s Centre won an award for Architectural Design Excellence.
Esker Arts Centre wins Architectural Design Excellence (€5M to €15M category)
The Main Contractor: FVG Construction & Maintenance Ltd, Galway, transformed a derelict, vacant building into the Esker Arts Centre, a community focused public amenity. The project has acted as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of community and arts in Tullamore and encouraged redevelopment of neighbouring plots. This project acts as an exemplar and depicts the potential of backland infill sites in Irish towns to provide fantastic community facilities in very central locations. The concept of re-use and lean construction were integral components within this scheme. A significant portion of the existing building was retained from a sustainability perspective but this in turn has helped contextualise the Arts Centre within the existing urban morphology.
According to the ICE Awards, “Esker Arts Centre achieves ‘design excellence’ by harmonising the challenges presented by the site with the client’s brief and surpassing their expectations. The architectural design harnesses the inherent beauty of the site, draws inspiration from its’ previous life and provides a new public space for the future.”
Kiernan Steel were triumphant in the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Initiative category
Speaking on behalf of the Community Health & Awareness Day committee at Kiernan Steel, Martina Brady, said, “We are incredibly proud to have won this ICE award. Our recent Mental Health and Wellbeing Day significantly benefited both our workers and the local community by fostering a culture of support and awareness around mental health issues. The event featured workshops, seminars, and activities designed to educate participants about stress management, resilience, and the importance of mental wellbeing. Employees reported feeling more empowered to discuss mental health openly, leading to a more supportive workplace environment.”
Ms Brady continued, “In 2024, we experienced a profound loss with the passing of our colleague Andrew, who tragically died by suicide. In his memory, we held a special Community Health & Awareness Day last September at the Athletics Centre in Longford. The event brought together over 800 people and welcomed a wide range of groups andICE individuals involved in mental health, fitness, and community engagement.
Midland Steel wins two ICE awards
Midland Steel wins Innovation in Construction Company T/O €100M to €250M for Fasterfix – Offsite Modular Rebar
In recent years, the industry has been adapting to changing dynamics of construction, embracing technology and coming to terms with real market challenges regarding many factors, particularly rising costs, expectations of shorter delivery programmes, scarcity of professionals and tradespersons alike. The Rebar sector, an industry in existence for over 150 years, has remained largely left behind, and traditional methods are still widely applied throughout the majority of construction projects. Midland Steels mission is to transform how reinforcement is placed on construction projects and our flagship Product, FasterFix, leading the way making that vision a reality.
Midland Steel win an ICE award for Specialist or Specialist Services Contract for Rolex Building 5th Avenue New York
Midland Steel recognises a combination of factors which reinforce the potential for mass adoption of Offsite Modular reinforcement construction solutions. Predominantly, its modular solution FasterFix has been proven to eliminate waste, reduce labour by 80%, and reduce construction programme by 30%. Hitting key concerns of any Developer – Cost, Resources & Sustainability. Introducing Fasterfix to the market in 2015, it has been laser focused on developing and enhancing its already successful product to ensure ease of adoption by all stakeholders, including Developers, Construction contractors, Design Engineers, Architects and Reinforcement Manufacturers its success on the internationally renowned Rolex building on 5th Avenue in New York is testament to the immense impact which it’s modular solution FasterFix is having in the local, regional and international markets.
Hollybrook Estate in Portlaoise wins Residential Private (up to €5M)
Architect: McCrossan O’Rourke Manning Architects
This entry is for a development of 105 new homes situated adjacent to Portlaoise Town centre which commenced in April 2021 and will completed November 2024. It is a scheme that has been well received by the community, the council and even more so by the new residents who will be joining the neighbourhood in the next coming months. The houses are high quality both in terms of finishes and energy rating, and with provisions for future adaptability.
For more on the ICE awards see here
