Summerhill Construction Co Ltd in Donoughmore, Co. Cork is delighted to be a finalist in the upcoming 2024 Irish Construction Industry Awards for its successful delivery of a new €3 million extension to the Mardyke Arena in UCC (University College Cork).
Shortlisted in the Education Project of the Year category, the 420m2 extension for client UCC Capital Projects provides a high-performance gym dedicated to empowering athletes and teams to reach their highest potential. It is a cutting-edge training, research, innovation and holistic facility which provides student athletes and teams with the resources they need to excel on the national and international sports arena.
The project was seen at an early stage to be an ideal candidate for a low carbon approach to design and building, incorporating modern methods of construction and off-site construction advancements. The construction period was approximately seven months and was completed safely on a very restricted site without any accidents or incidents. The finished product was delivered on time, within budget and to an exceptional standard.
The roof structure, which features bespoke designed roof lights, was designed with glulam beams combined with a CLT structure to provide the users with 420m2 of workout space, unobstructed from columns. An RC structure was also put in place for flood defence.
With its glulam columns and beams, and cross laminated timber roof structure, the material choices and construction methods have resulted in a building with less than 50% of the embodied carbon of a similar traditional building. This project has exposed Summerhill Construction Co Ltd to the possibilities and opportunities available for future low carbon projects.
The long-established main contractor was part of a project team that also included O’Connell Mahon Architects, Michael Barrett Quantity Surveyor, Horgan Lynch Structural Engineers, Malachy Walsh & Partners M&E Engineers and Cantwell Keogh & Keogh Associates Fire Protection Consultants. The team worked in a close collaborative manner to achieve the desired outcome for the client, overcoming any challenges in a synergistic manner.
O’Connell Mahon Architects, led by Laura Hanley, designed the centre of excellence to minimise the visual impact, carbon footprint and ongoing operational costs of the facility. They were tasked with creating an extension that would provide a dedicated squad / athlete strength-and-conditioning gym to meet the needs of all UCC teams and sports, scholarship students as well as international and Olympic athletes.
Launched in 2014, the Irish Construction Industry Awards recognise, encourage and celebrate original and innovative contractors, businesses, teams, consultants and projects that demonstrate excellence in the built environment. No stranger to award ceremonies – it won an Irish Construction Excellence Award last year in the Education Project category for Tyndall Institute of Technology UCC Phases 1&3 – Summerhill Construction Co Ltd is a successful building and civil engineering company with a proud reputation for quality and excellence spanning over 50 years.
“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for this prestigious award and to be in such exalted company,” Summerhill contracts director Dan O’Sullivan says of the other nominees ahead of the Irish Construction Industry Awards ceremony on November 7 in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
“It’s an opportunity to show our appreciation to our team for their efforts and the top-quality work they do on a daily basis. We are lucky to have very committed and talented people who take tremendous pride in their work. We’re looking forward to a great night.”
He adds: “The Mardyke Arena extension was a lovely project to be involved in. It wasn’t the biggest we’ve ever worked on, but it was very different and also very challenging with lots of logistical complications which were successfully overcome. It was a real team effort between all the stakeholders.”
Acquired over two generations and across a wide spectrum of industry sectors, Summerhill Construction Co Ltd boasts a wealth of knowledge, expertise and talent that is second to none. It is this experience that underpins Summerhill’s ability to deliver a service and product that truly reflects the individual needs of its clients.
The family business has a proven track record for tendering and negotiating projects for a variety of clients. Its client portfolio ranges from large multinational corporations and private companies to local and state authorities. As a result, the Cork operation has become synonymous with the consistent delivery of highly complex projects, on time and within budget in the residential, commercial conservation, fitout, healthcare, hospitality and education sectors.
The company’s dedicated team excel at working hand-in-hand with external design teams to provide a seamless and highly professional turnkey service to each and every client, no matter how exacting the brief or how challenging the timeline. Its management processes are tried, tested and proven, ensuring smooth coordination throughout all phases of your project, including mechanical and electrical services along with other specialist services.
Summerhill’s ability to meet client parameters and exceed expectations has helped to build an impressive portfolio of loyal, long-term clients whose ongoing repeat business constitutes a significant proposition of its overall project pipeline. In addition to being CIRI registered, Summerhill is a Safe-T-Cert company which operates with an unwavering commitment to Health & Safety at every level. This is evidenced by an insistence that all site management team members be trained and accredited to the highest standards, while health, safety and welfare at work are primary considerations in the procurement and appointment of its chain suppliers.
A programme of ongoing investment in the latest systems, technology and equipment ensures that clients can expect industry-leading levels of time and cost efficiencies throughout all aspects of their project, from inception to completion.
“We’re a family-run business employing 70 people directly and a further 150-200 on a subcontract basis,” Dan explains.
“I run the company jointly with my brother James, who is operations director. Our father Jim set it up in 1968 and it has gone from strength to strength ever since. We have some great clients, including JCD Group (John Cleary Development Group), Kennedy Wilson, UCC, RTÉ, HSE, Aramark, Mater Private Hospital, Bus Éireann, Laya Healthcare, Janssen, Department of Education, CIT, Starbucks and Geaney Property Developments. Repetitive work has been the key to our longevity and success.”
Some of Summerhill’s completed high-profile projects include the Victoria Hotel refurbishment, UCC Centre of Executive Education, Ireland’s largest Jaguar / Land Rover showroom, Ireland’s first Starbucks drive-thru café, City Gate Plaza Block B in Mahon and the full refurbishment of the landmark Metropole Hotel in Cork along with multiple high standard buildings at Blarney Business Park.
“We’ve just completed a new build for Dunnes Stores in Bishopstown after demolishing the existing building. We’re currently constructing a 120,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Anchor Business Park, Little Island and a new emergency department for the Mater Private Hospital in Cork.
“We’ve also broken ground on two of five new warehouses, ranging from 45,000 sq. ft. to 120,000 sq. ft. in size, for JCD Group at Evergreen Business Park in Little Island. In addition, we continue to undertake several SEN classroom projects across Munster for the Department of Education and have a number of residential projects coming on stream next year.”
Committed to delivering all projects efficiently, effectively and to the highest industry standards, Summerhill would like to take this opportunity to thank its clients, suppliers and design teams for their continued support as well as its staff and subcontractors for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Summerhill Construction Co Ltd
Donoughmore,
Co. Cork.
Telephone: +353 (0)21 733 7078
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.summerhillconstruction.ie
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, December 2024, Vol 10 No 12
featured, Summerhill Construction Co
