Mount Sackville Secondary School crowned Overall Winner of CIF’s 2022 “Building The Future” competition

Mount Sackville Secondary School in Chapelizod has won this year’s overall Construction Industry Federation’s (CIF) Building the Future Award for its Radharc na Life (“The Liffey View”) proposed housing development on Knockmaroon Hill, Castleknock.

They edged out both New Cross College with its sustainable housing development proposal and Galway City Youthreach whose housing and apartments in Galway to claim overall first place.

Mount Sackville Secondary School’s Radharc na Life (“The Liffey View”) proposal was selected as it mapped out a sustainable housing development on Knockmaroon Hill, Castleknock.

Created by students Orla Murphy and Olwyn Berry (pictured above) Radharc na Life, is based on an Earth ship model, which is a style of architecture developed in the late 20th century to early 21st century by architect Michael Reynolds.

Earthships are designed to behave as passive solar earth shelters made of both natural and upcycled materials such as earth-packed tires.

The judges were particularly impressed how the students proposed to ensure Radharc na Life would have a zero carbon footprint, through the utilisation of turbines, wave generator buoys and solar panel technology, and would deliver on its sustainable goals.

The winning students from Mount Sackville team will present their designs at the WorldSkills Ireland Live Event in the RDS in September 2022.

In addition, they will receive a day’s “Construction Experience” provided by Technical University Dublin and a TOPCON Complete construction package to include most up to date laser equipment and a half day instruction, as well as a prize for each of team members.

Both New Cross College and Galway City Youth Reach will also present their designs at the World Skills Ireland Live Event in the RDS and receive a TOPCON Construction package to include the latest equipment plus a half day’s instruction for New Cross College.

Both teams will receive individual prizes for each team member.

“We want to say a sincere thank you for all the schools and students who entered.

“We were elated with the level and quality of entries for the second year in a row.

“We are delighted that Mount Sackville won in such a close competition,” said Frank Kelly, President of the CIF.

“The imagination, creativity and clear thought put into the entries made the judging process very challenging.

“We look forward to the presentations at the World Skills Ireland Live Event The mix of innovation, sustainability and the vision was inspirational.

“We look forward to creating the virtual model and share this with the public.”

Speaking at the event, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, TD said, “Given the critical importance of the construction sector in Ireland, we want to inspire the next generation to consider all the potential that a career in construction offers them.

“This competition shows we have an abundance of natural talent and look forward to what the next generation can bring to the construction and property sector.

“A huge well done to the students from Mount Sackville and indeed to all the finalists.”

Ivan Gaine, Managing Director, Sherry FitzGerald New Homes said “Congratulations to Orla and Olwen who really impressed us with their creativity and vision.

“Their proposal really grasped the essence of the project, sustainable and energy efficient development, which gives me great confidence in the next generation of construction and property professionals.

“Each of the finalists should be very proud to have delivered exceptional development proposals, I hope the students found the project insightful and would now consider a career in this dynamic industry.”

“We are delighted with today’s result and we could not be prouder of both Orla and Olwyn,” said Eileen Cuddihy-Higgins, Principal Mount Sackville Secondary School.

“Their work on the Radharc na Life entry was inspirational. It showed that it is possible to put sustainability at the heart of future construction.

“Their considered use of different techniques and technologies meant that this is a not only an environmentally friendly design, but is also a practical design that can be easily implemented.

“Congratulations again to both New Cross College and Galway City Youthreach, and we look forward to their presentation at World Skills Ireland in September”

Competition designed with education leaders and judged by the Industry

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) in association with Sherry FitzGerald opened this competition (in its second year), to Senior cycle and Youthreach students.

The competition was a team-based project where students work together to design a residential housing development help address sustainability, climate change, solve the housing crisis and showcase innovation in construction.

“This competition is aiming to address future skills, as the CIF and National Skills Council reveals that 27,500 additional workers will be needed in the next 5 years and 40,000 by 2030 to deliver on housing demand alone.

This year’s programme was also supported by Sherry Fitzgerald, Autodesk and Diatec.

The entries were reviewed by and the winning schools were chosen by a select group of judges who were:

• Frank Kelly, President of the Construction Industry Federation
• John Sweeney, Senior Contracts Manager, Collen Construction
• Ivan Gaine, Managing Director, Sherry Fitzgerald New Homes
• Marguerite Boyle, Director, New Homes & Residential Investments at Sherry Fitzgerald