Architectural firm Henry J Lyons wins five awards, including public building, universal design and urban design
O-House in Rathmines, Dublin 6, winner of the living home (new build) award
John O'Connor
Thu Jun 18 2026 - 20:00 • 3 MIN READ
The winners of the 2026 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Architecture Awards were announced on Thursday evening at the Merrion Cricket Club in Dublin 4.
The big winner of the night was architectural firm Henry J Lyons which won five awards: public building; universal design; urban design, international; and client award.
The remodelling and resurfacing of the face of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) on St Stephen’s Green was awarded the public building award and client award.
After winning the RIAI’s public choice award on Wednesday , the Little Angels School in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, designed by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects, won the universal design award on Thursday.
“This year’s winning projects demonstrate how good design can improve people’s lives in meaningful and lasting ways,” RIAI president Fionnuala May said.
“[Irish] Architects are working with the State and communities to deliver innovative public buildings and infrastructure that will support the needs of current and future generations.”
This year’s awards recognised 24 projects across 12 categories.
Full list of jury winners
International
Ireland House, Tokyo
The international award went to Ireland House in Tokyo by Henry J Lyons, which is the realised design of an international architectural competition by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the RIAI.
Living home (new build)
O-House in Rathmines, Dublin 6
The living home (new build) award went to the O-House, designed by Lawrence and Long Architects.
The Rathmines property features a circular courtyard containing a garden and terrace with patio doors that flood the interior in light.
Living home (adapted)
Pembroke Cottages
Greenville Terrace
Greenville Terrace by Rachel Carmody Design and Pembroke Cottages by Reir Studio, two renovated brick builds, scooped prizes in the living home (adapted) category .
Adaptation and re-use
Squaring the Circle, a visitor centre for Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg, Co Clare
Three buildings were awarded in the adaptation and re-use category, including Inis Cealtra visitor centre in Lough Derg, Co Clare. The restored rectory, which dates back to 1905, was completed by McCullough Mulvin Architects.
38 Fenian Road, Dublin 2
Number 38 Fenian Road was also awarded after the Georgian building was restored to provide the Royal Irish Academy of Music with student accommodation.
The design by Lawrence and Long Architects includes protruding white cubes that provide extra space for en-suite showers.
Kilsaran Headquarters, Co Meath
Slid in between an existing office building and a manufacturing plant, the new headquarters for Kilsaran was also recognised in this category.
What was once a series of rundown buildings is now a workspace where landscape and industry interweave.
Conservation
Blackrock Park Teahouse
Magazine Fort, Phoenix Park
Blackrock Park Teahouse, restored by 7L Architects, won one of two conservation awards, the other going to the restoration of the historic Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park by the Office of Public Works.
Sustainability
Vantage Business Park, Dublin 11
Vantage Business Park, Ireland’s first multi-unit mass-timber business park, was designed by Gottstein Architects.
With more than 500 trees and 10,000 saplings, the park was recognised with the sustainability award.
Urban design
Bolands Mills, Dublin 4
Google’s Bolands Mills public realm, designed by Henry J Lyons and Gustafson Porter + Bowman,was awarded both the urban design and universal design awards.
Google itself describes the complex as a “livingroom for the Docklands”.
Universal design
Little Angels School in Letterkenny, Co Donegal
The Little Angels School in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, claimed the universal design award. The school, which has a landscape of sensory gardens, trails and amenity areas, was described as “a masterclass in inclusive design” by the RIAI.
Client award
Stonemount Park, Dublin 11
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, behind Project Connect on St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
The jury also presented two client awards to bodies that have shown particular leadership in delivering quality outcomes for their end users: Dwyer Nolan and The Iveagh Trust for Stonemount Park, designed by DSA, and the RCSI for Project Connect, designed by Henry J Lyons.
Public building
East Meath Civic Centre, Co Meath
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Project Connect at St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
Barretstown Medical Centre, Co Kildare
Barretstown Medical Centre, Co Kildare
The RIAI recognised a group of projects that “positively impact society” in the public building category.
Awards went to the East Meath Civic Centre by Robin Lee Architecture; Project Connect, RCSI by Henry J Lyons; Univer…
Read the full article at The Irish Times →
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