With 2025 marking a defining year for Irish architecture, O’Brien Architects stood out as a beacon of community-centred design, winning Building of the Year – Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality at the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2025 for its transformative project, Vaughan’s Pier.

The development embodies how thoughtful design can bridge people and place. Deliberately understated, Vaughan’s Pier allows human interaction to take centre stage, transforming a once-quiet coastal area into a vibrant social hub, a space where architecture fosters belonging, identity, and connection.

The judging panel praised the project’s “thoughtful and human-centred approach”, commending its seamless integration of industrial form with natural surroundings. Its balance of sustainability, function, and emotional resonance was described as “a model for contemporary community architecture.”

“Our panel recognised this project for its subtle yet profound impact,” the judges noted. “By prioritising connection and harmony with place, O’Brien Architects demonstrated how small-scale projects can deliver powerful, lasting social value.”

As the spotlight now shifts to 2026, entries for the next edition of the Building and Architect of the Year Awards remain open until 19 December 2025, with winners to be announced on 23 April 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. The programme continues to unite Ireland’s most visionary architects, designers, and developers, celebrating creativity, innovation, and technical excellence across every facet of the built environment.

Discover more inspiring projects and submit your entry today. Subscribe to our newsletter for entry reminders, finalist announcements, and event updates.