PUNCH Consulting Engineers of Henry Street in Limerick is front runner for its structural engineering work on St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford for an Ireland Excellence Award 2015. Having been considered for the short list of greats by their peers, PUNCH is up for public judgement and favourable vote until Thursday November 5.
You can vote for their commitment to the five-year cathedral project now by clicking on the PUNCH Structural Engineering entry on this link.
There are two separate St Mel’s Cathedral entries out of six finalists for the coveted Engineering Project of the Year Award. Only one vote can be ticked and PUNCH’s team was all Limerick based, Ger Neville, Kevin Mullery and Kevin Clancy who are key players in the Conservation Department, according to consultant Pat Hanley.
“While PUNCH may have led the engineering charge, with nine separate building contracts, five Planning Applications and two trips to An Bord Pleanála, success is very much dependent on the long collaborative efforts of a dedicated team,” observed Mr Hanley, recently retired as director. “The priority first was to retain and therefore stabilise the structure left in a precarious condition. Hegarty Demolition were tasked with the brave act of immediately stabilising the stone arches and providing a temporary roof.
“St Mel’s Cathedral stands proudly restored today in the centre of Longford’.
Back story: a fire broke out in the sacristy on Christmas Day 2009, destroying the interior and roof of the Cathedral. PUNCH took on the challenging structural task of replacing 28 ornate blue limestone columns and moving three tonne stone drums, without the use of an overhead crane.
Floors had to be replaced throughout. The engineers also installed the timber roof according to appropriate design, as well as replacing the sacred pillars of sacristy, altar and organ.
This monumental design and structural job was done in confining circumstances, all the while retaining the integrity of the arch structure overhead in time for Mass to be celebrated on Christmas Day 2014, the five year commemoration of the fire.
PUNCH Consulting Engineers worked with architects Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners and contractors Gem Purcell Construction on St Mel’s, deemed to be the largest conservation project in Europe.
Photo: Gem Purcell Construction
The restoration proved a huge success at the Irish Architecture Awards in Wood Quay in June this year. By vote such as the current challenge, the project won the Public Choice Award having secured a majority of the 10,500 cast.
It also won in two other categories: Conservation/Restoration and Universal Design, and was Highly Commended in the Research Category.
These Engineers Ireland annual awards in November are sponsored by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
