OPW HQ voted one of country's top buildings

The Office of Public Works (OPW) headquarters in Trim has won the award for the 'Best Mixed Development' at the recent 2011 Local Authority Members' Association (LAMA) Awards. Kilsaran Showroom and Display Gardens at Pace, Dunboyne, also won an award and was named 'Best Commercial Building'. The LAMA awards were created in 2006 to recognise local projects of excellence in construction, community development, recreation and national impact and the finalists are nominated by councillors nationwide. LAMA represents elected members nationwide. This year, the awards included 19 categories under which nominations were submitted. A number of projects in Meath were shortlisted as finalists. Cllr Maria Murphy submitted a number of entries for projects across the county. The OPW's new €37.7m headquarters in Trim was officially opened by then Transport Minister Noel Dempsey last April. The building, which covers over 8,000 square metres and stands four storeys tall in a unique circular shape, is home to some 300 OPW staff at Jonathan Swift Street in Trim. The landmark building includes a full-height atrium through the core and a civic plaza to the front and it was to have been a focal point in the planned new Trim town centre. The site at Townspark was purchased from Meath County Council at a cost of €3.6m and the building, which took two years to complete, was constructed in two phases by Bennett Construction, Mullingar. Construction and fit-out costs came to €32.2m. The first staff began moving into the building in the third quarter of 2009 and, at full capacity, the building can cater for 366 staff. Cllr Murphy said: "I would like to congratulate the management and design team of the OPW building in Trim which won the category 'Best Mixed Development'. This award was sponsored by Kilsaran. "Well done also to the winner of the 'Best Commercial Building' category, which was Kilsaran Showroom and Display Gardens. "Some initiatives started by Meath County Council were also shortlisted in their categories and I would also like to congratulate the staff involved in these projects. These included www.meatharoundtheworld.com, a website which was set up by Meath County Council in 2010 to promote business in the county, and 'Keep Meath Tidy' which provides free bins to community groups," she added. Cllr Murphy said the projects shortlisted this year across the country were very competitive. She said projects such as the Aviva Stadium in Dublin were included in a number of categories.