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April 2013 / Lyric Theatre book launch

Gandon Editions have published a new book on O'Donnell + Tuomey's Lyric Theatre with an interview by Vincent Woods, poet and presenter of RTE Arts Tonight, and essays by Michael McGarry and David Leatherbarrow. The book was launched by actor Simon Callow at a public conversation between Mark Carruthers and John Tuomey at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday April 21st.

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February 2013 / 'Miriam Meets' Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey RTE Radio One Miriam O'Callaghan in conversation with Sheila and John. In the radio programme, Sheila and John discuss their education at UCD's School of Architecture, their passion for building detail and key works of the practice such as the IFI in Dublin, Glucksman Gallery in Cork, the Letterfrack Furniture College, the Lyric Theatre Belfast and many more. You can listen to the podcast >>here<<.

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January 2013 / Lectures in Toulouse and Paris

Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey will give lectures on the work of O'Donnell + Tuomey in Toulouse on Tuesday, January 15th and in Paris on Thursday, January 17th

AERA - Actions, Études et Recherche sur l'Architecture, l'habitat et la ville
Salle du Sénéchal, 17 rue de Rémusat, Toulouse, France
2013.01.15, 19:00

Société Française des Architectes
247 rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
2013.01.17, 20:00

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December 2012 / Architecture Practice of the Year O’Donnell + Tuomey were announced as winners of the Architecture Practice of the Year Award by Icon Magazine. The inaugural Icon Magazine International Awards 2012 were announced at a special event held in Nicholas Hawksmoor’s Christ Church Spitalfields, London on the 6th December 2012. O’Donnell + Tuomey were selected from shortlisted nominations by a distinguished panel of judges – Alice Rawsthorn, Edwin Heathcote, Kieran Long, Libby Sellers and Ab Rogers. The shortlist included Zaha Hadid (London), Lacaton and Vassal (France), Alejandro Aravena (Chile) and Barkow Leibinger (Berlin). The Lyric Theatre Belfast was shortlisted in the category of Building of the Year. The Dublin-based duo excel in designs that resonate with their cultural and historic contexts. They created one of the outstanding buildings of 2012 - Belfast's Lyric Theatre - and are now testing their approach on major projects in London and Budapest. from the Icon Awards Citation

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November 2012 / Lecture in Venice Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey will be giving a lecture, "Bricks and Vessels" on Monday, November 19th at Università IUAV di Venezia. Campo dei Tolentini, Santa Croce 191, Venezia 2012.11.19, 15:00

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November 2012 / Lecture at Portland State University Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey will give a lecture on the work of O'Donnell + Tuomey on Thursday, November 8th. The lecture will take place at 6:00pm at 235 Shattuck Hall at Portland State University.

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October 2012 / Venice Biennale 2012

Watch the 42 second time-lapse photographic sequence of our 4 week construction process of the Vessel at the Venice Biennale. The exhibition continues until 25 November 2012.

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August 2012 / Venice Biennale 2012

Construction has started on Vessel, a special installation in the International section of the Venice Biennale.
Exhibition opens on 29th August until 25th November.

This work is realised with the additional support of:
Culture Ireland
COFORD—Council for Forest Research and Development
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Gem Joinery
Coillte
Glennon Brothers
Wood Marketing Federation
Seating and Access Contracts
Murray Timber
Horganlynch
London School of Economics
Swift Brickwork
Coleford Brick
Office of Public Works

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July 2012 / Lyric Theatre on Stirling Prize shortlist

The new Lyric Theatre is a striking and much-anticipated new home for a theatre with unique status in Belfast. The architects respond to the considerable design challenges presented by its location with gusto. The steeply sloping river frontage within a tightly knit fabric of brick terraced houses presented a demanding agenda for a building destined to be a public facility in a domestic environment capable of accommodating large numbers in the auditorium, studio and rehearsal room. The architects met the challenge admirably. The line of brick terraces seems to flow in to the Lyric’s façade and masses in a gentle crescendo, as do the visitors as one is pulled inside and upwards.

The theatre is both modest and self-confident, deferential and assertive. The dramatic entry stairs, the areas for gathering and the tactile nature of the interior all lead to the enveloping, dark and dramatic space of the theatre itself. The long-anticipated completion of the Lyric Theatre has proved more than worthwhile. The quality of the interior spaces, its sensitive response to a challenging site and the expansion of the Lyric’s ability to function behind the scenes make this a stunning accomplishment and a pleasure to spend time in.

from Stirling Prize shortlist citation

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July 2012 / Falling Dansu

Falling Dansu, a cooperation between O'Donnell + Tuomey and Joseph Walsh, is exhibited at Wallpaper* Handmade Exhibition in Milan and featured in Wallpaper* August issue

A contemporary reinterpretation of the bureau desk, Falling Dansu brings to mind the tradition of cabinets of curiosities. Hanging on the wall as a mysterious architectural object, the front panel folds down to reveal a luxurious and highly personal inner world. A series of moveable wooden boxes hang above the desk; sliding from side to side and back to front they reveal an array of compartments for pens, papers, books, and the trinkets of travels and modern life, while a secret drawer provides a safe hiding place for passports and love letters. Constructed from the highest-quality solid Ash plywood, Falling Dansu epitomises the finest of contemporary cabinet making. The mitred joints producing a purity of form, while the softly sandblasted outer surface reveals the beautiful pattern of the grain, creating an abstract art-piece unique to each desk. More details here.

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June 2012 / Lyric Theatre wins the RIAI Award for the Best Cultural Building 2012

Here a cultural institution finds a home commensurate with its level of achievement and public affection. Its robust and
expressive forms, in particular the interlocking relationship of volume and movement of its public spaces mediate between
city and landscape.

from the RIAI Awards Citation

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May 2012 / Photographers' Gallery opens in London

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May 2012 / RSUA Awards The Lyric Theatre won in three categories at the Royal Society of Ulster Architects Awards: - The Liam McCormick Building of the Year Award - RSUA Design Award (category: over £2.5 million) - Department of Environment Planning & Development Award The judges commented: The long-anticipated completion of the Lyric Theatre has been more than worth it. The quality of the interior spaces, its sensitive response to a challenging site and the expansion of the Lyric’s ability to function literally behind the scenes make this a stunning accomplishment and a pleasure to spend time in.

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May 2012 / Lecture in Wien Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey have been invited to give a lecture on their recent works at Technische Universität Wien. TU Wien, Karslplatz 13, A-1040 Wien 2012.05.03, 18:30 More details here.

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April 2012 / Use of Brick: Lecture and Exhibition On Monday 16th April John Tuomey gave a lecture on O'Donnell and Tuomey's use of brick in the Students' Union project for the London School of Economics. The lecture was followed by the exhibition opening. Red Room (with exhibition in the adjacent Front Room) Richview, UCD School of Architecture Monday 16th April 2012, 6pm

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April 2012 / Lyric Theatre is the Overall Winner of 2012 Concrete Society Awards

The full impact of this building, and indeed the full impact of the leading role concrete plays in this building, needs to be seen first hand. The intricacies and complexities of the site and of the brief are handled with great care and precision. The volumes and spaces formed by the concrete structure are only surpassed in quality by the flowing public spaces left between them. Perfect detailing is matched by concrete of extraordinary quality leaving the jury singularly impressed and in wonderment at how it was achieved. There is clearly a marriage of conviction between Client, Architect, Engineer and Contractor that permeates this building at every level.

The winner of the Building Category and overall winner of the Concrete Society Awards 2012 is The Lyric Theatre, Belfast.

from Peter Mc Govern's speech presenting the Award on behalf of the Jury

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March 2012 / Lyric Theatre wins Civic Trust Award The new Lyric Theatre is a dazzling building of international quality, constructional design and execution. In townscape terms this is an exemplary project which demonstrates best practice of how to commission, design and construct a major new public building into the physical and emotional world of a city. Overlooking the River Lagan on a confined inclined urban site, the relationship with the surrounding houses, the distant views and the immediate and closer approaches are all very well judged and realised. Internal circulation offers many opportunities to gain wonderful views across and into a variety of spaces. The foyer, cafe bar and spill-out spaces actively encourage civic integration and interaction - to see and be seen to chat and to linger. This building is an appropriate landmark that is woven deftly into the surrounding urban fabric and an enhancement to the entertaining requirements of the city of Belfast. from the Awards quotation

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November 2011 / O'Donnell + Tuomey win Central European University competition Central European University (CEU) is embarking on one of the largest current real estate projects in Hungary with the redevelopment and refurbishment of approximately 30,000 square meters of its campus in downtown Budapest, World Heritage site. This exciting project combines the innovation and openness that are characteristic of CEU with a commitment to integrate the University with its Hungarian home. The campus will offer a dynamic environment for the diverse people we attract from around the world, while preserving important architectural assets in downtown Budapest and engaging more members of the public. President and Rector John Shattuck The four-stages international competition was won by O'Donnell + Tuomey in November. The design incorporates a number of existing historic buildings and courtyards, two new buildings and courtyards and a new route through the city block. One of the new buildings, housing library and auditorium, facing onto Nador Utca in central Pest

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November 2011 / Lyric Theatre wins Brick Award Lyric Theatre wins the Best Public Building Award and is the Supreme Winner of The Brick Awards. Built on an epic scale the theatre manages to be both heroic and intimate. The interior is well-detailed by utilizing a brick that fits in with the local materials whilst the building fits in brilliantly with the streetscape. The surrounding housing is enhanced by the building’s form and the river is framed from within the building. The natural day lighting within the building is both sustainable and enhances the brickwork. The building is a constant surprise with new spaces at every level, but with a rigorous design giving coherence to the whole. The theatre has been cleverly designed and built to fit in with local materials and housing in the surrounding area. It is truly a community building with outstandingly beautiful interiors which enhances the river landscape. from judges' citation

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November 2011 / Irish Architecture Now

Architects from six leading contemporary Irish practices will showcase their work and discuss issues concerning architecture at leading U.S. architectural schools and institutions this Autumn as part of Irish Architecture Now – Ireland’s first architectural showcase in the US which is part of Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year of Irish arts in America in 2011.

In November, Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, Sheila O’Donnell of O’Donnell + Tuomey Architects and Tom dePaor of dePaor architects will travel to the West and Mid-West of the U.S. to participate in symposia at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the University of Berkeley and at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Nov 8th 7pm: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Nov 9th 6:30pm: Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Design, University of California Berkeley
Nov 11th 6pm: The Art Institute of Chicago

More details here.

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October 2011 / Group 91 exhibition at UCD

In the autumn of 1991, Group 91 Architects won the Temple Bar Framework Plan competition and were awarded the commission of making new public spaces and surrounding buildings as proposed in their competition entry. Within Group 91, there were eight practices and thirteen architects: Rachael Chidlow, Shay Cleary, Yvonne Farrell, Paul Keogh, Niall McCullough, Shelley McNamara, Michael McGarry, Valerie Mulvin, Siobhan Ní Eanaigh, Sheila O’Donnell, Shane O’Toole, John Tuomey, and Derek Tynan.

This exhibition presents Group 91's own exhibition panels (shown at the Architecture League of New York in 1998) interwoven with written excerpts from interviews conducted by Lisa Cassidy in 2011 with Yvonne Farrell, Shelley McNamara, Michael McGarry, Siobhan Ní Eanaigh, Sheila O’Donnell, Shane O’Toole, John Tuomey and Derek Tynan.

The opening event on 12th October 2011 in the Red Room at Richview (UCD School of Architecture) featured a discussion moderated by Prof. Hugh Campbell between McGarry Ní Eanaigh Architects, Sheila O’Donnell, John Tuomey, Derek Tynan, Shane O’Toole, and Grafton Architects (project architects Ger Carty and Philippe O’Sullivan).

The exhibition will be open in the Front Room Gallery (Richview) until 26th October.

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October 2011 / International Theatre Exchange Conference

Friday 7th October 2011
Wood Quay Dublin
Sustaining Spaces: John Tuomey lecture on the Lyric Theatre Belfast

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October 2011 / Planning Permission granted for St. Angela's College, Cork

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September 2011 / University of Pennsylvania School of Design

Wednesday 28th September 2011
PennDesign Fall 2011 Lecture Series
John Tuomey: Complications lecture

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September 2011 / AR House Awards lecture

Following The Sleeping Giant house Commendation for AR House Awards 2011 John Tuomey gave a lecture at the opening of London exhibition at the NLA Building Centre, London, on Wednesday 7 September.

The exhibition is open to the public from 8th September until mid autumn, and then in Laufen, next to Basel, on 13th October.

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July 2011 / An Gaeláras on Stirling Prize shortlist

An Gaelaras is designed as a cultural centre to promote the use and enjoyment of the Irish language and its culture. Faced with an almost impossible landlocked site in a street of Georgian and Victorian terraces further compromised by a substation that occupies a third of the frontage, the architects have come up with an intriguing and intricate vortex plan that draws the visitor in and up the resulting dynamic multilevel building. With only one external elevation they have created three other facades internally. Lots of architects talk about creating ‘streets’; this one really is. The cranked space, top lit by a large steeply sloping rooflight, it is as if you are in a twisting mediaeval lane in the old city. Shops, cafés, bars are all there and lead you through to a theatre. Above teaching and office spaces jostle for views, linked by a series of stairs, bridges and platforms that circle and cross the internal courtyard. The stairs appear and disappear as the route unfolds like an unpeeling orange, making visitors want to explore, drawing them up both visually and physically to the upper levels. The plan appears haphazard but in fact it fixes places and connections. Herein lies the success of An Gaelaras: in its ability to house all the different functions within spaces that have adequate light and views despite being inside a building with limited aspects and whose only elevations are the front and the fifth one: the roof.

The sense of the building as a sculptural intervention in a conventional street is enhanced by the use of beautiful board-marked concrete. In scale it respects its neighbours but materially it is very different and speaks of culture as something that is aspirational as well as communal. The concrete adds gravitas and allows for the use of cheaper materials elsewhere: plywood and painted plaster.

An Gaelaras is an innovative and vibrant building that embodies the celebration of Irish language and culture using a dynamic plan form to break down convention and enhance the sense of community. The organisation and the aesthetics complement one another to produce a rigorous piece of architecture that characterises the institution instead of merely reflecting the predilections of the architects.

from Stirling Prize judges' citation

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June 2011 / Worcester College competition, Oxford

O'Donnell + Tuomey were runners-up in the recent RIBA competition for Worcester College New Lecture Theatre and College Kitchens in Oxford.

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April-May 2011 / Forthcoming lectures

28th April, 7:30pm: Irish Literary Society: Aspects of Architectural Design, Hesperia Hotel, 2 Bridge Place (behind Victoria Station), London

5th May, 20:30: Archipel lecture in Belgium: Niko, 40 Industrial Park West, 9100 Sint-Niklaas

12th May: CESUGA School of Architecture, La Coruna, Spain

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April 2011 / John Tuomey elected to Aosdána

John Tuomey was one of five new members elected at the annual general assembly in Dublin, bringing the number of architect members of Aosdána to five.

The Arts Council established Aosdána in 1981 to honour those artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland. Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists who have produced a distinguished body of work.

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April 2011 / Tate Britain

Supercrit No 7 was organised by EXP the research centre for Experimental Practice at the University of Westminster in collaboration with the Architecture Foundation and in association with Tate Britain.

The event was held at the Clore Gallery in parallel with their current exhibition: James Stirling, Notes from the Archive. James Stirling’s 1977 competition-winning design for the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart was presented by Michael Wilford to a public audience and a panel of invited critics.

The panel, chaired by Piers Gough, included Charles Jencks, Louisa Hutton, Kieran Long and John Tuomey.

More information here.

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March 2010 / Worcester College shortlist

O'Donnell + Tuomey are one of six practices shortlisted in RIBA competition to design a new lecture theatre and kitchen for Worcester College in Oxford.

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December 2010 / Ways of Working book published

The book documents the 2010 annual Martell Lecture and work by Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey including the New Students' Center at the London School of Economics, the Sleeping Giant House, and the Timberyard Housing in Dublin. buffaloBOOKS is a series of publications that focuses on ideas and design. The series explores these ideas through the documentation of significant lectures, events and work; contributes to the speculative investigation of design in architecture and planning; and makes this information accessible for students and those with an interest in architetcure. More details here, and the book is available here.

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November 2010 / A Space for Learning exhibition and lecture

A Space for Learning is an exhibition following an Irish Architecture Foundation ideas competition for Architects and Transition Year Students to collaborate on a design for ‘a space for learning’, leading to the exhibition now on at NCAD Gallery from November 5th 2010 to January 9th 2011.

O’Donnell + Tuomey worked with transition year students from St. Angela’s College Cork. The students looked at ways to use the steep slopes, steps and gardens of the school grounds as learning spaces. Ideas developed in participatory design workshops are displayed in a special cabinet containing sketches and models for outdoor learning spaces in the school orchard. This project runs in parallel with the O'Donnell + Tuomey design for a new school for St. Angela’s. "5 architects, 5 proposals" lecture will take place on 15th December at Harry Clark Lecture Theatre, NCAD, Dublin.

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November 2010 / Mahlum Lecture and AIA Seattle Honor Awards

Sheila O'Donnell discussing an exhibition of her watercolour sketches with architecture students from the University of Washington, Seattle, where she delivered the 2010 Mahlum Endowed Lecture on 4th November 2010.

She was a jury member for the 60th AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. The 2010 Jury included Jim Jennings (San Francisco), Sheila O'Donnell (Dublin) and Gilles Saucier (Montreal). The Jury moderator was Nathaniel Kahn, director of the film "My Architect".

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November 2010 / AAI Lyric Theatre site visit

photo by Steffan Hill

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September 2010 / Planning permissions granted for three ODT projects

Coleraine Museum, London School of Economics New Students' Centre and Trinity College Luce Hall Students' Centre are granted planning permissions.

Coleraine Museum

London School of Economics New Students' Centre

Trinity College Dublin Luce Hall Students' Centre

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August 2010 / WAF shortlist Timberyard Social Housing and An Gaelaras Irish Language Centre have been shortlisted in the World Architecture Awards in Housing and Civic & Community category respectively. An Gaelaras was a runner up in its category with the Jury praising its "outstanding design qualities".

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June 2010 / AIA Honorary Fellowship Investiture Ceremony, AIA 2010 Convention in Miami

Sheila O’Donnell, Hon. FAIA
citation: Hailed as one of Ireland’s most notable architects, she creates a contemporary architecture of international significance that embraces and integrates the past.

John Tuomey, Hon. FAIA
citation: Teacher, writer, and architect, he brings together modern thought and respect for history, practicality and ideals, and analysis and intuition that enriches Ireland's architecture.

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May 2010 / Brno lecture

Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey were invited to give a lecture on their recent work as part of Irish Architecture exhibition at Architecture Centre in Brno.

For more details please click here.
Full podcast of Brno lecture can be found here

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May 2010 / Timberyard Social Housing shortlisted for Lubetkin Prize

Timberyard Housing wins RIBA International Award and is among the three contenders for the prestigious Lubetkin Prize for the best international building. When a small tear was made in the urban fabric of Dublin by the construction of the Coombe by-pass, O’Donnell + Tuomey came up with a way of repairing it with a highly modulated wall of housing that is almost Byker-like in its form and impact. The sculptural wall is broken up with deep-set windows or blind cuts, by set-backs to create terraces and by the vertical use of Iroko timber in screens. The building line cranks to hug the street and at ground level and there are built-in granite planters-cum-seats. The main communal space is an open-ended triangular wedge, passively surveyed by the residents whose flats overlook it. Children can play here happily and safely just metres from a busy main road. These are grown-up spaces to grow up in. From Lubetkin Prize citation

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April 2010 / Downes Medal and AAI Special Award

Timberyard Social Housing wins 2010 Downes Medal - the supreme Award of the Architectural Association of Ireland for excellence in architectural design - and an AAI Special Award goes to An Gaeláras Irish Language and Cultural Centre.

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April 2010 / RIBA / TLOS lecture London

Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey will give a lecture "The Lives of Spaces" at RIBA, Portland Place, on 27th April. Details can be found here.

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April 2010 / Sheila O'Donnell elected to Aosdána

Sheila O'Donnell was among new members elected at Aosdána annual general assembly in Armagh.

The Arts Council established Aosdána in 1981 to honour those artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland. Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists who have produced a distinguished body of work.

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March 2010 / Civic Trust Award Timberyard Social Housing wins 2010 Civic Trust Award. The scheme injects distinctive urban design into a brown-field site forming part of a much needed regeneration and integrated masterplan for this area. The building has been designed to a specific purpose, with a bespoke layout to suit its function and individual units adaptable to different user needs and living styles. The project makes a worthy contribution to its surroundings and is an example of high quality urban redevelopment in the city. (from Awards citation)

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March 2010 / Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey visit University at Buffalo, USA as Martell Distinguished Visiting Critics

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March 2010 / Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey have been elected as Honorary Fellows of American Institute of Architects, the first Irish architects to receive this honour for Architectural Design since Michael Scott was elected in 1972.

"The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society [...]

Honorary fellowship is bestowed on architects of esteemed character and distinguished achievements who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. residents, and who do not primarily practice architecture within the domain of the Institute."

Please click here and here to see more details on AIA website.

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February 2010 / Planning application lodged to Westminster City Council for LSE New Student Centre

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December 2009 / Coleraine Museum and Library Planning Application lodged

Market Yard, a new public space in the old cattle yard.

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November 2009 / Peru Conference

Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey gave public lecture and participated in international biennal conference on architectiural education at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

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September 2009 / Threshold Stone ceremony at Lyric Theatre

Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey talking with Conor O'Malley, son of the founders of the Lyric, and Seamus Heaney who read his poem 'Peter Street at Bankside' dedicated to the rebuilding of the Lyric Theatre. An excerpt from the poem is inscribed on the threshold stone: I dedicate to speech, to pomp and show, This playhouse re-erected for the players. I set my saw and chisel in the wood To joint and panel solid metaphors: The walls a circle, the stage under a hood - Here all the world's an act, a word, an echo. more >>

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September 2009 / An Gaeláras / Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin opening event

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September 2009 / LSE exhibition at NLA in London

O'Donnell + Tuomey scheme for the competition to design a new Students’ Centre for the London School of Economics is
among the six finalists exhibited in London at New London Architecture, 26 Store Street.

The exhibition will run from 2nd September until Wednesday 28th October. Opening times are: Monday to Friday 9.30am – 6.00pm and Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm.

more >>

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August 2009 / An Gaeláras Irish Language Cultural Centre / Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin completed

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June 2009 / O'Donnell + Tuomey win London School of Economics competition

O’Donnell + Tuomey have won an international design competition for a new 21.5 million Students’ Centre at the London School of Economics. We are delighted to win this opportunity to build a significant building in London, the city of our second schooling in architecture, at the centre of the street-based campus of the London School of Economics. We hope to make a special building for the students’ union, one that derives from and contributes to the characteristics qualities of the LSE. Sheila O'Donnell + John Tuomey I am convinced we have a scheme of world-class potential that will become a seminal piece of university architecture. The approach of O’Donnell + Tuomey was sensitive, erudite and engaging. Julian Robinson, LSE director of planning The concept is by far the most sustainable, and shows a building that will glow with light and activity at night, and be engaging, open and social at all times. Aled Dilwyn Fisher, LSE students’ union general secretary

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June 2009 / RIAI Award

Timberyard Social Housing wins 2009 RIAI Award for Best Housing Development.

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June 2009 / RIBA International Award and Lubetkin Prize

Sean O'Casey Community Centre wins RIBA International Award and is shortlisted for Lubetkin Prize for the best international building.

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May 2009 / London School of Economics shortlist Shortlist for the London School of Economics new Students' Centre at St. Philips has been announced, revealing O'Donnell + Tuomey as one of six practices selected.

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April 2009 / Geffrye Museum shortlist O'Donnell + Tuomey have been shortlisted as one of three practices for the major redevelopment of London's Geffrye Museum.

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April 2009 / University College Cork Pedestrian Bridge and Riverside Walk goes to Tender

A full scale mock-up of a typical bay of the timber footbridge is completed in February 2009.

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April 2009 / AAI Awards

2009 AAI Special Award goes to Sean O'Casey Community Centre and The Sleeping Giant wins AAI Award

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March 2009 / Sean O'Casey Community Centre wins Irish Concrete Society Building Award

The winning entry was chosen as it exudes simplicity and clarity of detail which is achieved using a minimal palette of materials – primary concrete. This building illustrates how simple ideas well resolved can make a strong statement of community spirit. from the Irish Concrete Society judges' citation

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March 2009 / Leicester: Stirling Connections John visited Leicester University to give a talk Stirling Connections as part of Stirling's Red Buildings conference. Engineering Building, Leicester University, Saturday 28th March

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March 2009 / Lyric Theatre starts on site

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February 2009 / West Cork Arts Centre Design Competition O'Donnell + Tuomey were runners-up in the shortlist for West Cork Arts Centre in Skibbereen.

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January 2009 / London Lecture: Concretions Sheila and John gave a talk on some of our recent concrete construction projects at the Building Centre in Store Street off Tottenham Court Road at 6.30pm on Wednesday 21st January. Kester Rattenbury's review here

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October 2008 / Sean O’Casey Community Centre, East Wall, Co. Dublin completed

Sean O’Casey Community Centre accomodates a series of resource spaces for the community of the East Wall, including a theatre, day-care, creche, educational and recreational facilities. Circular holes punctuate the façade, three sizes of window provide for standing, sitting and full height views out of the builing to the street and to the wider city. These windows act as communication devices at a larger scale also representing the community as a landmark visible from the elevated train lines to the north, the sea to the east and the river to the south.

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October 2008 / John Tuomey has been appointed as the first Professor of Architectural Design at University College Dublin

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October 2008 / O’Donnell + Tuomey represent Ireland as part of a group show The Lives of Spaces in the Venice Biennale

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October 2008 / Gray House, Howth, Co. Dublin completed The Gray House is a new family dwelling in Howth that sits into the sloped ground of an existing garden, overlooking the sea. The part single storey part two storey form is broken down into a number of blocks of different heights and plan dimensions. The roof levels vary over different parts of the house to break down the scale and to reflect the way that the plan form expresses the main rooms of the house as separate elements.

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October 2008 / Strand House completed This is a holiday house by the beach at Rosslare Strand. The predominant characteristic of the existing line of houses along the sea front road is that the houses are sited on higher ground behind a roadside retaining wall with fuchsia hedges and maritime plants. The proposed house follows this pattern of development. The view to the east, across the Irish sea provides a calm and uninterrupted prospect to the horizon. The house is laid out in parallel setbacks, making further layers relating to the lines of the road, the dunes, the beach, high and low tide, the waves, the horizon.

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September 2008 / AAI Site Visit to Timberyard Housing, Cork Street, Dublin

New housing scheme in the historic Liberties area of Dublin for 45 dwellings and street level community facilities. Our design centres on a new public space, on the site of a former timeryard, to provide scale and identity, a piece of living city which connects the new construction to the historic character of the Liberties.

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August 2008 / Knockmore Housing and Child and Family Centre go to Tender

The development in Knockmore, Dublin, consists of 89 houses, arranged in terraces and courtyards, and a ‘Child and Family Centre’ for Barnados on a steeply sloping site.

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June 2008 / The Sleeping Giant, Killiney, Co. Dublin wins RIBA European Award

The building really comes alive inside, where the architects' extremely complex plan and cross section of intersecting triangular and polygonal planes— not a right angle in sight — creates a warren of cave-like rooms. This is a building with geography, in which the eye is thrown this way and that. The client, while not expecting such an ambitious house, is delighted with it, and her children happily regard the place as a secret world. The quality of materials and detailing — the concrete and extensive joinery especially — is excellent, all the more so considering the speed of construction... from RIBA European Award citation

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June 2008 / Photographer’s Gallery, London granted planning permission The new building for the Photographers’ Gallery on Ramillies Street, Soho, is intended to be a crossroad of cultural activity in central London.The site, occupied by an existing building, is in an area of Planning sensitivity in Westminster. The brief comprises galleries, print sales, educational, administration, cafe, bookshop and workshop facilities.

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April 2008 / O’Donnell + Tuomey celebrate 20 years of practice, new office in Cork and launch a book of the Glucksman

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March 2008 / The Sleeping Giant wins the Building Category and Overall Award in the Irish Concrete Society Awards

...the judges considered that this entry demonstrated the level to which the industry has advanced the versatility of concrete as a material used for structure, weathering, and aesthetic effects. The building’s three-dimensional form, surface finishes and technical detail display a strong appreciation of the materials qualities. Excellence in the scheme’s design and construction is testament to the collaboration of client, designers and contractors... from the Irish Concrete Society judges' citation

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January 2008 / An Gaeláras starts on site

The brief includes performance, educational and administrative facilities, including public and commercial services, to meet the requirements of a Contemporary Cultural Centre for Irish language, arts and culture on a sensitive site in the historic centre of Derry.

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January 2008 / UCC Bridge Planning Application is lodged

University College Cork requires a link between the campus and the city. With the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, the pedestrian bridge and the riverside walk progress the college conservation policy to consolidate the parkland character of the landscape amenity of the riverside grounds of the college.

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August 2007 / Sean O'Casey Community Centre, East Wall, begins on site With the delivery of the first circular window and erection of the first corrugated concrete wall, the community centre is taking shape around its four courtyard gardens. Situated in Dublin's rapidly developing docklands, the East Wall remains a strongly focused residential community. This project brings to fruition a community drive to develop the neighbourhood through the provision of educational, crèche, age care, sport and theatrical facilities, grouped in a central location.

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August 2007 / Killiney House completed

This house was designed to connect the given (foreground) complexities of a rocky outcrop site with more distant (background) views to the sea and the mountains. The house wraps around a sheltered terraced garden to the west, sets back to protect an existing granite rock garden to the east and opens out to face the horizon to the south. Sequences of half-level floors step across the sloping site under cover of a cranked and folded concrete shell roof.

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June 2007 / Cherry Orchard School wins RIBA European Award

The school, which opened in September 2006, is organised around four courtyards, each planted with cherry trees, to create an inward enclave in the uncontained landscape of Cherry Orchard, a west Dublin suburban housing district. A generous brick floored secure entrance lobby gives way to a wide central street off which the classroom and gym-cum dining hall are arranged. The mass of cherry trees outside acts as the perfect counterpoint, creating a haven of brick walled gardens overlooked by vaulted roofs in this alienated part of the city. A number of visitors have commented that it is hard to believe they are in a school and that it feels more like an art gallery. In the words of the client: 'This new building is a testament that wonderful things can happen in Cherry Orchard'. They surely will. from the RIBA Award citation

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June 2007 / Academy Summer Shows

Sheila O'Donnell's watercolour studies were selected for exhibition in both London and Dublin Academy Summer Shows: Design studies for the Hanging Gardens of Amersfoort were shown in the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin and sketches for the house in Killiney were shown in the Royal Academy London.

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May 2007 / Associates Triona Stack joined Willie Carey and Jeana Gearty as Associates in the O'Donnell + Tuomey partnership. Our one room studio now includes 18 people and our three associates are involved in the co-ordination and design development of a wide range of educational, cultural, commercial and residential projects.

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December 2006 / 'Selected Works' by O'Donnell + Tuomey published by Princeton Architectural Press

The first internationally published monograph on O'Donnell + Tuomey architectural practice presents fifteen of our institutional and residential projects in an arresting collection of colour photography, plans and drawings. The book includes the much-discussed Irish pavilon at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Ranelagh Multidenominational School, Ireland's Pavilion at the 2004 Venice Biennale, and the Glucksman Gallery at the University College Cork, which was one of six buildings shortlisted for the 2005 Stirling Prize.

'The work of Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey speaks to our mind and sings to our heart. They are serious architects. They are poetic people.' TOD WILLIAMS AND BILLIE TSIEN, Foreword The Gallery of Photography on Meeting House Square, which was designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey and completed ten years ago was the venue for the presentation. The book was launched by Fiona Kearney, director of the Glucksman Gallery. 'The story of the past two decades of Irish architecture cannot be told without O'Donnell + Tuomey. They are central characters in the narrative.' HUGH CAMPBELL, Continuity and Renewal in the work of O'Donnell + Tuomey

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March 2006 / Sheila O'Donnell + John Tuomey lecture in Trieste at the Civico Museo Revoltella - Galleria d'Arte Moderna on Thursday 30th March 2006 at 5pm.

This event is held by: Ordine degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori della provincia di Trieste Promoted by: Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) Federazione degli Architetti, Pianificatori, Paesaggisti e Conservatori del Friuli Venezia Giulia Università degli Studi di Trieste, Facoltà di Architettura Dipartimento di Progettazione Architettonica e Urbana With the support of: RIAI Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Civico Museo Revoltella – Galleria d’Arte Moderna Comune di Trieste, Assessorato alla Cultura

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February 2006 / O'Donnell + Tuomey wins The UK Civic Trust 2005 European Capital of Culture Award for the Lewis Glucksman Gallery.

The prestigious UK Civic Trust Awards are the largest and most comprehensive environmental design awards scheme in Europe. The scheme recognises architecture and environmental design that makes an exceptional contribution to our built environment.
The award was presented to John Tuomey by Vivienne Newlands, the Civic Trust Awards Manager, at the Cafe Glucksman on 16 February 2006.

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December 2005 / 5th December 2005: Charles and Ray Eames Memorial Lecture
Michigan University, USA

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November 2005 / O'Donnell + Tuomey wins the RIAI Triennial Gold Medal

The RIAI Triennial Gold Medal,the highest award in Irish architecture, was presented to O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects by Mrs. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, on November 10th 2005 for Ranelagh Multidenominational School - The best building completed in Ireland during the period 1998-2000. 30th November, 6pm: RIAI Gold Medal Inaugural Lecture National Gallery

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June 2005 / Cork Exhibition Installation

New Trends of Architecture in Europe and Asia-Pacific will have its only European showing this year at the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, from June 10 until July 23, as part of the Cork 2005 celebrations. Exhibition installation designed by O'Donnell + Tuomey.
more >>

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April 2005 / Launch of Department of Education and Science's First Primary School Multiplex!

Bishop Raymond Field blessed and an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern formally launched the construction of a new primary school complex, Saint Ultan's, in Cherry Orchard on Monday 25th April. This is the first primary school project of its kind ever undertaken by the Department of Education and Science and reflects its readiness to be innovative in tackling educational disadvantage. As well as sixteen classrooms the complex will include a purpose built Early Start unit, a fully equipped canteen, a pre-school nursery, and a care unit that will cater for children before, during and after school hours. It is appropriately named after Saint Ultan, a seventh century saint, renowned for his care and education of children.

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November 2004 / Cherry Orchard School starts on site 29th November 2004

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September 2004 / New book published New book published by Gandon Editions: Architecture, Craft and Culture Reflections on the Work of O'Donnell + Tuomey by John Tuomey ISBN 0946846 626

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September 2004 / O'Donnell + Tuomey to represent Ireland at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2004

Architect and critic, Shane O'Toole, Ireland's Commissioner for the Venice Biennale 2004, has selected O'Donnell + Tuomey to represent Ireland in the 9th International Architecture Exhibition, METAMORPH, which will open in Venice on September 12th. Sheila O'Donnell and John Tuomey will present a purpose designed installation, "Transformation of an Institution", which is based on their project for the Furniture College at Letterfrack, County Galway, which was a finalist for the Mies van der Rohe Award-European Union Prize for Architecture last year.

The opening of Ireland's Pavilion, by the artist Gerard Mannix Flynn in the presence of the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, will take place on Friday, September 10, 15.30-16.30 in the Arsenale di Venezia - Artiglierie.
Further details: http://venicebiennale.archeire.com and http://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture

TRANSFORMATION OF AN INSTITUTION The Furniture College Letterfrack Gandon Editions 2004, ISBN 0-946846-59-6 This book was published to mark Ireland's patricipation in the Venice Biennale 2004. It provides an outline history of Letterfrack and documents O'Donnell + Tuomey's transformation of the institution at its heart.

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August 2004 / New book on O'Donnell + Tuomey

Archaeology of the Air Kester Rattenbury 96 pages published by Navado Press Trieste, Italy
ISBN 88-901457-0-6

O'Donnell + Tuomey's buildings operate as individuals - as the sorts of individuals one knows and engages with personally. Individuals with surprising capacities, unexpected charms, powerful affections, and strenghts of personality which are not immediately apparent. The whole body of the work, though, adds up to form something else: a broader culture, which is not confined to architecture. I'm not surprised that they find Heaney and Auden as relevant to their work as Stirling or Rossi. In a way - and without having to cross disciplines or produce anything but architecture - their work ignores the fabricated boundaries of what architecture is thought to be, engaging in a wider world - of the vernacular and the high canon, of weather, and views, and people, and work and ideas, and materials, and old buildings, and new developments, of tourism and journeys and reading by lamp-light, of places that people recognise and imagine and use.

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