University contractor O'Hare & McGovern takes top award 
15 October 2015
University contractors O’Hare & McGovern was announced as the ‘Overall Winner’ of the Construction Excellence Awards 2015 for its work on The Wellcome-Wolfson Building, Centre for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s.
The new Centre is part of an investment of £350m in buildings and facilities over the next ten years to support the University’s Vision. It provides accommodation for 330 staff specialising in researching cures for eye disease, respiratory disorders and vascular complications linked to diabetes.
Hosted by the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) in partnership with Specify magazine and in association with Ulster Business, the award was presented on 8 October at the Culloden Estate & Spa to O’Hare & McGovern, long-term partners of Queen’s, by guest of honour, Dame Mary Peters.
Commenting at the Awards, CEF Managing Director John Armstrong said: “O’Hare & McGovern’s work in delivering this wonderful new building for Queen’s is an excellent example of how our local construction industry is pivotal to the development of so many important projects across a wide range of sectors in Northern Ireland.
“This particular project will benefit thousands of patients in the years to come, supporting the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine in its mission to develop new avenues for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of important ophthalmic and vascular diseases to relieve human suffering.”
Commending the Award winners, Damien Toner, Director of Estates at Queen’s, said: “We congratulate O’Hare & McGovern in delivering this world-class facility at Queen’s. The new Wellcome-Wolfson Building, Centre for Experimental Medicine, is an interdisciplinary research facility and is designed to enhance our internationally recognised excellence in education and research.”
“The building will achieve an environmental BREEAM rating of Excellent, as it incorporates a range of measures to deliver a more sustainable building. Environmental sustainability is integral to the University’s objective of reducing carbon emissions by 2020.”
O’Hare & McGovern has been winning quality and partnership awards with Queen’s for over 25 years, but this latest accolade is probably the most special, according to Managing Director, Eamon O’Hare.
Mr O’Hare said: “This was an outstanding achievement by a special team involved in a very unique project. It required massive effort and total commitment. We are immensely proud of the building and it strengthens our long partnership with Queen’s University Belfast.”
To support medical research at Queen’s please contact Helen Surgenor, (Head of Medical Fundraising), telephone 028 9097 1568 or visit the website.
Media inquiries to Queen’s Communications Office; tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5292
Pictured at the awards ceremony are, (L-R): Eamon O’Hare (O’Hare & McGovern), Dame Mary Peters (Guest Speaker), Seannie O’Hara (O’Hare & McGovern), Rhona Quinn (CEF President) and Damien Toner (Director of Estates at Queen’s).
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