Jackie Greene Construction wins Contractor Conservation Project of the Year at Irish Construction Industry Awards 2025

Singled out for adaptive reuse excellence and heritage craftsmanship last year, Jackie Greene Construction claimed Contractor Conservation Project of the Year at the Irish Construction Industry Awards 2025 for the Dalkey Forge project, establishing a benchmark for conservation-led development as the sector advances toward 2026.

The Dalkey Forge project represents best-practice adaptive reuse, transforming heritage structures into contemporary accommodation while maintaining architectural integrity and historical character. Jackie Greene Construction navigated the technical complexities of blending conservation requirements with modern building standards, delivering a development that honours the site's past while meeting present-day performance expectations. 

The careful detailing throughout the project reflects the specialised craftsmanship essential to conservation work, where standard construction approaches must yield to heritage-sensitive methodologies.

Judges praised the project's technical execution and meaningful transformation: "The careful detailing and exceptional feedback highlighted its technical excellence as a blueprint for conservation-led development. The result is a beautifully crafted, meaningful repurposing of existing buildings into accommodation, setting a new standard for conservation projects."

This achievement underscores rising expectations across the Irish Construction Industry Awards, where conservation projects increasingly demand contractors demonstrate specialised heritage expertise, sustainability integration, and sensitive adaptive reuse capabilities alongside technical delivery. 

As Ireland's planning policy shifts toward densification and built heritage protection, the ability to execute conservation-led developments that balance preservation imperatives with contemporary housing needs becomes a defining sector capability separating heritage speculation from authentic conservation practice.

Carrying forward momentum energy from 2025, the 2026 awards cycle will challenge contractors to advance conservation construction through innovation in heritage materials sourcing, traditional skills training, and sustainable retrofit methodologies. Which projects will define the next benchmark for conservation-led residential excellence this 2026?

For past winners, category details, and updates, visit the official Irish Construction Industry Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for exclusive insights and coverage from Ireland's construction sector.