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The construction of a world record-breaking bridge in the South-East, which will re-define expectations for bridge engineering both nationally and internationally, and a COVID-19 alliance of engineering firms that enabled the servicing of temporary clinical facilities and a review of the medical gas infrastructure in over 30 of the country’s acute hospitals are among six projects to be recognised by Engineers Ireland and ESB in a new Engineering Excellence Digital Series.

Launched recently in recognition of the work of Ireland’s talented engineers, the Engineering Excellence Digital Series aims to recognise and showcase inspiring engineering endeavour in 2020 and its positive impact on society.

Following an open, free-to-enter competition organised by Engineers Ireland and supported by ESB, six winning projects have been chosen to be profiled as part of the series through video stories on Engineers Ireland’s and ESB’s social channels. They include:

• N25 New Ross Bypass PPP incorporating the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge over the River Barrow, a joint entry from Arup and CFCSL (Designers), BAM and Dragados (Contractors)
• The Coastal Mobility Route by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with project partners, Clonmel Enterprises and the National Transport Authority
• The COVID Alliance – How Ireland’s engineers rallied to the COVID emergency by The COVID Alliance, comprising of over 50,  commercial, academic and state organisations
• I-Form’s Rapid Response Digital Manufacturing Hub by I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing
• ADVANCER Project by Thermo King and Trane Technologies
• Coppermills Water Treatment Works New Roughing Filters – The innovative use of collaboration and digital engineering tools to protect London’s water supply by Irish engineering companies by EPS Group in collaboration with Thames Water; Skanska, MWH and Balfour Beatty (SMB)

Each week, two videos from the series will be published and a public vote in December will decide what project will receive the overall accolade of Engineering Endeavour of 2020.  A seventh, additional video in the series, will also recognise the professional body’s Chartered Engineer of 2020, Oranmore native Donal Kelly.

To view the first video in the series, the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP incorporating the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge over the River Barrow,  see below:

Commenting on the Engineering Excellence Digital Series, Caroline Spillane, Director General, Engineers Ireland, said: “Ireland’s engineers make an enormous, but sometimes hidden, contribution to society.  Since 2010, Engineers Ireland has worked to address this through the annual Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards, supported by ESB. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have taken a different approach by harnessing video and digital platforms to shine a light on the role of engineers and their contribution to society.  In August and September, we encouraged engineers, engineering firms and businesses all over the country to enter our series and tell their story of engineering endeavour. In turn, we’re now sharing their stories with the public and highlighting the wonderful diversity of work and some excellent projects achieved in 2020.”

Ms Spillane added: “The winners show the level of talent, skill and hard work demonstrated by the engineering profession in a range of settings, whether that is through keeping our healthcare workers and their patients safe during the COVID-19 crisis; or engineering, building and infrastructure work or those who are developing innovative and sustainable solutions for society.”

Mr Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive of ESB, said: “ESB is proud to support the Engineering Excellence Digital Series as it celebrates the endeavour, impact and inspirational nature of Ireland’s engineering talent.  Ireland’s engineers work every day to improve lives and find solutions to big societal challenges, both here in Ireland and overseas. By demonstrating the diverse ways that they contribute to society, we hope to highlight the value of STEM and inspire future generations to consider engineering as a meaningful career choice.”