18 August 2015
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Cathy Lawson, Caroline Counihan (General Manager), and Hilda Hennessy of Brown Thomas, who were one of last years winners. The awards honour the best-designed and best-kept buildings in Cork City and suburbs and will be presented by architect Hugh Wallace from RTÉ’s Home of the Year and Ard Mhara Chorcaí Cllr. Chris O’ Leary. For more information or to nominate a worthy building see www.corkbuisness.ie or call 021 4278295
Cork Business Association and Cork City Council have officially launched this year’s Cork Better Building Awards.
The awards honour the best-designed and best-kept buildings in Cork City and suburbs, and are aimed at rewarding businesses and building care-takers for their efforts to protect, enhance and improve the city’s street scape. This will enhance public perception of the city as a vibrant and dynamic place to live, visit, invest and do business in.
The awards will be presented by architect Hugh Wallace, from RTÉ’s Home of the Year, and the Lord Mayor Councillor Chris O Leary, at a glamourous invitation only lunch in the five star Hayfield Manor Hotel on Friday November 6.
Every business, heritage building owner, architect, conservation project and tourism facility in the greater Cork area is invited to enter the prestigious awards, whether you have recently upgraded the exterior of your building, designed a stunning new build, painted or decorated your building, invested in the upkeep of an old building, or you are just extremely proud of how your building looks.
The categories for the awards are:
· Best in Retail
· Best in Heritage & Conservation
· Best in Café / Restaurant
· Best in Pub Front
· Best in Commercial Business Frontage (excl. retail)
· Best in Tourism, Arts & Accommodation
· Best New Development
· People’s Choice
The newest award category is People’s Choice, where the general public can nominate their favourite building in Cork online at www.corkbusiness.ie.
Buildings can be entered into more than one category where appropriate and there will also be a Judges Choice building award.
Speaking about the awards, Lawrence Owens, CEO of Cork Business Association, said, “We are delighted to work in partnership with Cork City Council on the Better Building Awards again this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to encourage businesses to improve their facades and the overall look of the city’s street-scape. Much of the attention of the awards is on the maintenance and simple good housekeeping of buildings – painting and cleaning, planting and enhancements – ways that will make the very best of the building. The exterior of a building is one of its biggest selling tools, so we are encouraging everyone to have pride in their buildings – our buildings, our story.”
Also commenting, Ann Doherty of Cork City Council, said, “Cork City Council recognises the importance of the city centre to the social economic and cultural life of the Cork area and considers that the efforts of many property owners to maintain and develop their premises should be acknowledged and rewarded. We need to keep the offering up and highlight Cork as a fantastic place to shop, work and live. We are currently trying to tackle the vacant buildings issue and these awards are part of our continuing initiatives for a better looking Cork City.”
The awards are run by Cork Business Association. The judging panel includes Jeremy Ward, Senior Executive Planner Cork City Council, Ann Bogan, Senior Planner Cork City Council, Tony Duggan, City Architect Cork City Council, Peter O Meara, Director of Savills Ireland, and Alan Healy from The Evening Echo.
Last year’s winners included Saint Finbarre’s Cathedral, Electric, The Gresham Metropole, The Cornstore, Frank Nolan Butchers, Brown Thomas, The River Lee Hotel, and City Gate Park Mahon. Entry is open to all previous winners.
The closing date for applications is September 18 2015 to give judges time to inspect and visit nominated buildings.
If you think your building is worthy of winning one (or more) of the categories, or if you would like to recommend a building, fill out an application form on www.corkbusiness.ie or call 021 4278295 and they will post one out.
