UCC wins two awards for conservation and heritage projects

UCC has won two awards in the 2007 Cork City Centre Better Building Awards.

The awards, which were announced at an awards ceremony recently, are for the Crawford Observatory Project, which won first place in the Conservation Category and the Ogam and Carved Stones Project which came third place in the Heritage Category.

Programme Co-ordinator for Cork Marketing Partnership, Una Murphy explained - "This is the 7th year of the awards, which are dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the built environment to the life and image of Cork city. The awards present an opportunity to applaud the immense effort that goes into creating and maintaining the range of wonderful buildings that visitors and residents alike enjoy in Cork City Centre.

"The awards seek to congratulate staff, managers, property owners, developers, architects and designers for high standards in design, conservation and creativity and salute all the maintenance staff on their good practice in the presentation of Cork City's buildings - old and new."

UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy, in offering his congratulations to the award winners said - "It is terrific to see the manner in which the city recognises the importance of developments in UCC as part of the agenda for a better Cork."

The Judging Panel included - Ms Louise Cotter, Architect with Carr Cotter Naessens Architects, Ms Clare Nash, Managing Director, Nash 19, Mr Kevin Terry, Director of Planning & Development, Cork City Council, Mr Oisin Creagh, Architect with Murray O'Laoire Architects and Mr Pat Ruane, Cork City Conservation Officer. The Cork School of Music was awarded the prestigious Judges' Choice Award.

Mr Michael Geary, Chairman of Cork Marketing Partnership congratulated all of the winners - commenting that their combined efforts greatly enhanced the Cork City Centre environment. He noted the addition of a new Heritage Project category in the 2007 Awards and paid tribute and thanked this year's sponsors - Ascon Rohcon, McDonnell Paints, The Evening Echo and Zebedee Marketing.

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