The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Co Dublin has been voted the public’s favorite building at the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Awards 2024, winning the prestigious RIAI Public Choice Award.
Designed by Stephen Foley Architects and CAMPUS, the new 400-seat venue and music school facility is part of the Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS) campus and houses classrooms and rehearsal rooms in addition to the recital hall.
The public choice award was announced by RIAI President, Sean Mahon ahead of the RIAI Awards ceremony held at the National Gallery of Ireland on June 20.
This year’s campaign saw over 20,000 votes cast by the general public for the 42 shortlisted projects competing for the prize.
"The level of public engagement this year has been extraordinary, and I want to extend a warm congratulations to both the winner and the runners up," said RIAI President Sean Mahon FRIAI.
"The Lark Concert Hall truly exemplifies the excellence and innovation that the RIAI Public Choice Award stands for.
"With a record number of votes cast and a growing level of interest in the Public Choice Award, we can see the increasing public recognition of how quality architecture has the power to improve lives and shape the society we envision.
"Together, we are building a better future, one thoughtfully designed space at a time.”
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In second place for the public choice award was Castleblayney Library and Market Square Regeneration by Craftstudio Architecture with Gaffney and Cullivan Architects, with Kinsale Library by Cork County Council Architects’ Department following in third place.
The RIAI Public Choice Award "seeks to find and subsequently honor Ireland’s favorite building or public space."
This 42 shortlisted entries this year included nine houses (new and old build), public housing projects, workplaces, libraries, a distillery, and innovative adaptions of historical buildings.
The RIAI Irish Architecture Awards celebrate buildings across all areas of the built environment, from small rural communities to towns and urban centers. The theme for the 2024 awards "places an emphasis on sustainability, focusing on the reuse, repair, adaptation and retrofit of our existing buildings as key to addressing climate change."
This year's awards jury selected 20 winners across nine different categories, including Sustainability, Restoration and Repair, and Urban Design and Public Realm.
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the professional and registration body for Architects in Ireland.
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