Patrick Flynn joins the judging panel of the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2027 as Head of School of Architecture, Building and Environment, bringing the perspective of an internationally recognised leader in architectural education to one of Ireland’s leading architectural programmes. His appointment adds academic leadership and international perspective to the 2027 panel.

Flynn is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland. At Faculty level, he has led curriculum development, programme design and validation at university level, ensuring that provision remains high quality and forward looking. His expertise spans academic leadership, quality assurance and international collaboration, three areas that shape how the next generation of architects is educated and how standards are maintained across the profession.

His influence extends well beyond a single institution. Flynn is one of ten elected council members of the European Association for Architectural Education, a network of more than 140 member schools across Europe. That role places him at the centre of ongoing conversations about how architecture is taught, assessed and developed, and it gives him a continental frame of reference when assessing work.

Flynn is also the co-editor and a contributor of Rethinking The Crit, published by Routledge in New York and London. The title points to a sustained interest in how design work is discussed and evaluated, a focus that sits naturally alongside the demands of a judging role.

That combination of academic rigour and international outlook is well suited to a programme that recognises quality, innovation and impact across Ireland’s built environment. For entrants, it is a reminder that strong submissions are those that present clear thinking, credible delivery and a considered response to context. With finalists to be announced on 4th February 2027 and the gala set for 8th April 2027, the 2027 cycle offers practices a chance to present work to a panel of this calibre.

Enter the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2027 before entries close, and visit the official awards website to find out more and subscribe to the newsletter for programme updates.