Call for entries for the 2021 placemaking awards

Urban Land Institute & CBRE call for entries to showcase best in class ‘placemaking’ efforts throughout Ireland.

Following receipt of a very high standard of entries from all over the country to the Excellence in Placemaking competition over the last two years, The Urban Land Institute (ULI) in conjunction with CBRE Ireland, have now formally launched the 2021 competition.

The judges are expecting a bumper number of entries this year considering the many excellent placemaking efforts that have come to prominence around the country during lockdown.

In fact, this year’s competition, which rewards companies and community groups throughout Ireland that add to the public realm and create great places for communities in which to ‘live, work and play’, will have a newly introduced category specifically for projects that materialised as a direct result of the global pandemic.

The 2021 Excellence in Placemaking Awards competition is open to all public and private organisations as well as community groups in each province of the country, and entry is free.

The best community project and best public/private sector project in each Province will each win a trophy and there is a national prize of €5,000 for the best overall project.

As mentioned above, this year’s competition will also feature a special prize for the best ‘Covid-19’ inspired project. For further information on the 2021 awards and details on how to submit an entry, please see www.cbre.ie/uliplacemaking-awards or email excellenceinplacemaking@uli.org

The closing date for entries to this year’s competition is August 15th and the competition will culminate in a prizegiving ceremony in the Autumn. Like in previous years, entries will be judged by a highly accomplished jury including esteemed planners, architects & academics. Jurors will operate independently of CBRE and ULI Ireland, applying the highest standards of evaluation and professional practice as reflected in the code of ethics of the Urban Land Institute.

Kevin Nowlan, Chairman at ULI Ireland said: “These awards tie in with some of the key objectives of the Urban Land Institute in terms of identifying, showcasing & celebrating good design & placemaking in urban landscapes.

“The projects that particularly appealed to the judges in previous years were those that promoted health & wellbeing, offering ‘connectivity, permeability and accessibility’ for all whilst also promoting the best in architecture and design.

“Since the onset of Covid-19, we have seen excellent examples of placemaking with companies, local authorities and communities throughout the country investing in improving the public realm and creating enjoyable ‘places for people’. With all of the pedestrianisation projects and placemaking efforts that materialised as a direct result of Covid during the last year, we are particularly excited to see the entries to the 2021 competition”.

The Cualanor development in Dun Laoghaire emerged as the overall winner of the 2020 competition, winning an award of €5,000 towards further enhancement of the facility. This development, which also won the Leinster category of last year’s competition, demonstrated a lot of the characteristics of good placemaking within a modern residential scheme and was a worthy winner.

Cosgrave Developments have confirmed that the prize money is being invested in improving biodiversity in the Cualanor development. The 2020 winners around the country comprised a broad mix of projects from a wonderful ecological project in Cork, an excellent rejuvenation project in Louth, a community led project in the West of Ireland and a developer led placemaking initiative in Northern Ireland. Who will the 2021 winners be?

2020 Winners

  • Rest of Leinster - Clanbrassil Street & St. Nicholas Quarter Rejuvenation project, Dundalk, Co.Louth

  • Connaught - The Centenary Garden Project, Mulranny, Co. Mayo

  • Munster - The Harpers Island Ecological Project, Cork

  • Ulster - The Boulevard, Outlet Shopping & Leisure Scheme, Banbridge, Co. Down

Myles Clarke, Managing Director of property consultants CBRE Ireland, sponsors of the competition, added “It is so important for the future of our built environment that we understand and champion great placemaking efforts throughout the country. I am delighted that CBRE are once again working with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to formally recognise & reward those who are building communities & creating amazing places.

We are urging organisations and community groups throughout the country to submit entries for the 2021 competition, build on the momentum from previous years and showcase some great placemaking efforts as well as some ingenious Covid-19 inspired projects.”

McKenna Creative