Irish Construction Excellence Awards shortlisted RBR Specialist Conservation Contractors deliver a personal, flexible and professional approach to all conservation projects.
The 2019 Irish Construction Excellence Awards Gala Awards event took place in the Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin on Friday, March 29th last. The RBR team were there in numbers as they were shortlisted in the Public or Heritage Building category for their exemplary work on national Irish treasure, Blarney Castle.
The firm were honored to be awarded the Judges Silver Award for their Conservation of Blarney Castle & Blarney Castle Entrance Café in the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2019.
The Irish Construction Excellence Awards (ICE Awards) are the original and premier recognition of performance excellence for the contracting sector in Ireland.
The Public or Heritage Building category was open to Building or Specialist Contractors who demonstrate best practice in the construction, conservation, refurbishment or major restoration of a public or heritage building completed within the past 24 months.
The project could be any type of Public or Heritage Building including but not limited to museums, galleries, courthouses, theatres, exhibition space or community building.
RBR Specialist Conservation Contractors’ Blarney Castle project ticked all those boxes.
Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s most iconic buildings, a partially-ruined, late Medieval stronghold, 90 feet in height, at the top of which is found the Blarney Stone, a tourist destination of world-renown attracting nearly half a million visitors annually.
Such an ancient structure necessitates care to ensure both its longevity, but also its safety.
RBR were employed by the Blarney Castle Estate to conserve the exterior of the castle to best practice standards.
The works were carried out on a phased basis, over several winters, while tourist numbers were at their seasonal lowest, though the castle remained open throughout the works, necessitating cooperative arrangements between RBR operatives and those of the Castle to protect the positive visitor experience.
A new café and rest room facility was provided at the main gate. Works could only start once the tourist season was slowing down in late Autumn 2017 and to be finished before levels increased again in Spring 2018.
The arrival of Storm Ophelia and the worst winter weather seen for many decades did hamper production and test the mettle of those on and off site.
The client’s needs were sympathetically translated into designs and specifications by Southgate Associates and these were executed by RBR and the excellent team of specialist sub-contractors and tradesmen including conservation masons and joiners.
Materials incorporated into the stone walls were to replicate, insofar as was possible, those used in the iconic 15th Century Tower House that is Blarney Castle. The end result has done much to improve the visitor experience of thousands of tourists to Blarney Castle and Ireland in general.
Located in Cork and London, RBR is a specialist Conservation & Refurbishment Principal Contractor and Sub-contractor. Their specialist team have the knowledge and skills to deliver and exceed on their clients’ expectations.
They specialise in façade cleaning and restoration, architectural metalwork repair, metal and timber window conservation and repair, structural grouting, masonry repair, structural concrete repair, internal stonework, marble repair and cleaning and special works (minor works).
They approach each project as a unique piece of work with its own style and personality. It is their mission to make their clients visions a reality and exceed all expectations. They combine their knowledge and expertise to restore buildings back to their original glory by traditional techniques.
RBR have completed a diverse range of projects, from the highly specialised restoration of listed historical buildings to commercial fit outs and building conversions.
The company’s impressive project portfolio includes: St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork; The Curragh Racecourse; 10, Trinity Square, London; Pennys Store, Dun Laoghaire and Maldron Hotel, Parnell Street, Cork to name but a few.
They pride themselves on their flexible, collaborative and consultative approach. Their team works together on all projects to ensure that all their projects are delivered consistently to a high standard to exceed their clients’ expectations.
RBR Conservation excels at generating team-driven solutions and they match their specific skills to each particular task. They have a professional, dedicated management team and their people are empowered to deliver projects safely and efficiently, whilst continually looking to improve best conservation practice.
Their level of repeat client business is a testament to the quality of the service they provide.
If you would like to discuss your current or future project requirements, contact them at [email protected] or contact Stephen Redmond, the company’s Managing Director at [email protected].
RBR Façade Conservation & Building Refurbishment
Cork Office
Unit 624,
Harbour Point Business Park,
Courtstown,
Little Island,
Co Cork.
T45RK26
+353 (0) 21 4513746
London Office
6th Floor,
83 Victoria Street,
London,
SW1H OHW
+44 (0) 203 585 4615
Website: www.rbrconservation.com
Taken from Building Ireland Magazine, June, Vol 5 No 6
RBR Façade Conservation Building Refurbishment
