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Fit Out Awards 2021: Shortlist Announcement

Public Sector Fit Out Project of the Year – Woodlock Hall

 

Woodlock Hall

The team at McKeon Group are delighted to be named on the shortlist for ‘Public Sector Fit Out’ project of the year in the Fit Out Awards 2021 for the delivery of a new library at the iconic Woodlock Hall, which is part of historical All Hallows Campus of Dublin City University in Drumcondra. This magnificent library, when filled, will host the renowned 140,000-volume Milltown Park library collection, which was transferred by the Jesuit Province to Dublin City University in recent years.  

You can read more about this project and view the photo gallery here: https://mckeon.ie/delivery-of-new-library-at-woodlock-hall-all-hallows/ 

About the Fit Out Awards 

Launched in 2012, the annual Fit Out Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in this specialist sector. Ireland-based fit out teams have a well-deserved reputation for world-class design and delivery, the team at McKeon welcome the opportunity to showcase our work and celebrate the sector. While the pandemic forced the celebrations online last year, the Awards Gala events have been social highlights for the industry in years past and we look forward to a hybrid coming together of the sector next month on the 24th.

Best of luck to all of our industry peers shortlisted in the https://www.fitoutawards.ie 2021, particularly those peers nominated alongside McKeon Group’s Woodlock Hall project in the Public Sector Fit Out category:

 

 – Dublin Airport Central

 – New RSA Offices, 15 Main Street, Loughrea

 – St. Colman’s Community College, Midleton, Cork

 – Woodlock Hall

 

 Best of luck to all the great fit out teams involved!

 

 

About McKeon Group:

Established in 1950, this year marks the 70th anniversary of McKeon Group, which remains a family business. ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact McKeon.ie 

 

 

MSI: A new type of contractor

The role of Master Systems Integrator, or MSI, is a relatively new concept for the built environment in Ireland, although it’s relevance has been growing in other regions in line with the growth of smart buildings globally. The term ‘smart buildings’ essentially describes connected buildings and these connections improve the user or occupant experience of that space while enhancing the overall performance of the building under a range of metrics, including environmental, social and governance, or ESG.

Contemporary buildings contain numerous smart solutions supplied by multiple specialist contractors. The systems may work well on their own, however, they generally do not integrate well with one another, or at all. Whether retrofitting existing spaces, or designing new spaces from scratch, an ad hoc approach to the deployment of IoT, or Internet of Things, solutions weakens the integrity of the building’s systems and fails to channel data into any central repository. Without such a central data repository, useful information remains unleveraged, resulting in a ‘smart building’ with little to no intelligence. The core function of the MSI in the delivery of contemporary smart buildings is to ensure frictionless operation and communication between all systems within that building. This requires top level integration by the MSI of layers of software enabling the smart functioning of the building system and aggregation of all data captured. The MSI contractor is responsible for this top level of integration on a smart building project, ensuring that all systems achieve compliance with an agreed data model or schema. By using an agreed data model, the data from the building’s smart systems can be understood by people and third party software applications to ensure longevity through interoperability into the future. This end result is a real-time ‘data lake’ for use by the building owner, operator and occupants. This ‘data lake’ gathers valuable building performance data, including ESG metrics, that are made accessible and actionable by the building owners/operators in order to optimise the experience for the occupants.

Early engagement of a MSI contractor is essential to ensure alignment with the design team in terms of approach and delivery. This allows for pre-emptive screening of all hardware devices, in line with the client’s IP security protocols, and a framework for onboarding third party solutions. In addition to project managers, an MSI contractor’s team typically consists of software developers, building service engineers, BMS specialists, BIM co-ordinators and data scientists.

Learn more about the emerging technologies enabling smart buildings through McKeon Group company Hereworks:  https://hereworks.ie/what-we-do/smart-buildings/

About McKeon Group: Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

Having previously undertaken a full mechanical infrastructure and control upgrade to reduce energy consumption, McKeon Group was recently commissioned to deliver a new library at Woodlock Hall, on the historical All Hallows Campus of Dublin City University in Drumcondra. The campus consists of nine interconnected original and contemporary buildings, the oldest of which was built in 1725.  

 

This magnificent library, when filled, will host the renowned 140,000-volume Milltown Park library collection, which was transferred by the Jesuit Province to Dublin City University in recent years.  You can see the new library coming to life under the expertise of McKeon Project Manager Eugene McDermott and his team in the following video: https://youtu.be/hNgHUwz52ME 

 

 

 

McKeon Group worked closely with the estates team at Dublin City University, including Eanan O’Doherty and Adolfo Rey MCIOB.  Huge thanks to our delivery partners on this special project, including Mullarkey Pedersen Architects, M&E Consultant Peter Donnelly, and Fred McCreanor of MCR Consulting Engineers Ltd. 

 

View the All Hallows gallery of images below: 

 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

Implementing changes to how a business is run is no small task, especially when it comes to construction technology. With many moving parts, ensuring everybody within an organization is on the same page is essential. Despite the disruption that introducing new tech can cause, successful adaptation helps keep up in the competitive construction industry and allows progessive, innovative firms like McKeon to lead.  

 

With the Irish construction industry requiring all the innovation and tech solutions it can get to solve the housing crisis, the pace of change is set to be rapid. Utility Magazine explains in the following article how executive leadership can help ease such tech transitions, making sure technology, people, and business processes work together for success: https://utilitymagazine.com.au/the-role-of-executive-leadership-in-successful-tech-implementation/ 

 

TECHNOLOGY

As reiterated in the Utility article, technology should work for your business, not against it – this might sound obvious, but it is not always so clear. With so many tech solutions out there, the process of selecting the right one can often be a team effort. For this reason, it is advised to form an innovation team to evaluate construction technology and decide which should be implemented. As well as those from IT departments, those in the business who would actually use the tech on a day-to-day basis should be on the innovation team.

 

The team should establish whether the tech helps the business meet its goals and, if so, does it benefit the company more than other available solutions? It is critical to establish a clear set of business requirements, distinguishing between necessities and niceties, thus aiding discussion.

 

In this process, executive leadership’s role is to empower the innovation team to articulate the business’ vision for the future, keeping the focus on client-centred efficiencies and needs. An effective leader will keep the team’s focus tight, observing when nice-to-haves are being misconstrued as must-haves.

 

A well-informed team will look for the following:

 

– Standardisation across projects and divisions

– Look for ways to eliminate duplication of data

– Centralised reporting

– Implement technology to create a more data-driven organisation

 

With no tech ticking every box, executive leadership needs to be creative in marrying solutions, ensuring business goals are met.

 

PEOPLE

Effective change management also comes under the purview of executive leadership. Tech or otherwise, making a transition period as easy and smooth as possible for people within an organization is the responsibility of leaders.

 

According to Prosci, the industry-standard framework for implementing change, modifications to the way business is done begins with awareness and desire. People need to be aware of why change needs to occur; otherwise, they may prove resistant. This should lead to a willingness to enact and accept the change, even supporting its implementation.

 

Executive leadership plays a key role here in effectively communicating the need for changes. Conveying support for change early and clearly helps managers implement solutions. Leaders can do this by focussing on the company’s long-term vision, explaining how these changes help move towards that.

 

Getting this message across to everyone within an organization is also the responsibility of executive leadership. It is widely understood that individuals understand the need for change better when the reasons are communicated directly from credible ‘leaders’ – this does not necessarily equate to management level..

 

Messaging should come in the form of an inclusive meeting, if possible, or a well-written email.

 

Whether a meeting in person or an email, the following should be addressed:

 

– How the changes align with the company’s vision

– Addressing problems and opportunities

– Why change now

– The risks

 

While the communication should be direct from executive leaders, managers can help assuage concerns and reinforce the positive message regarding the changes. Formation of a steering group is recommended for larger organisations, regularly meeting to discuss progress and solutions to areas of concern.

 

Resistance management techniques are therefore vital for executive leadership should there be push back from managers. While concerns should be listened to and addressed through one-on-ones,  it should be clear that the change itself is not optional. Everyone needs to pull together to implement key changes. Celebrating successes will help maintain momentum, encouraging the continued implementation of solutions.

 

Measuring the implementation of solutions will ensure change is happening at the desired pace. Using metrics such as adoption rates and other performance indicators will allow executive leaders to review progress.

 

PROCESSES

Construction technology will only solve problems if employed with sound business processes. While construction tech allows a wealth of data in the form of reports and analytics, these insights are only possible if good practices are in place.

 

Executive leadership can help here by clearly defining processes linked to new tech solutions. These should be clearly defined through the formalised documentation of standard processes.

 Again, a steering group should assess milestones and implementation schedules, ensuring change is happening according to plan. Therefore, it is advised to introduce end-user training as this results in better productivity and a higher adoption rate of new tech.

 

Finally, the above article urges that executive leadership to be at the forefront of change, supporting and implementing change through example. Remaining resolute that the changes are worthwhile and will result in the achievement of long-term goals helps keep an organization positive and ensures the successful implementation of construction tech solutions.

 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

Unable to operate normally, COVID-19 hit global construction hard. With material shortages, prolonged lockdowns, labour disruptions, and financing challenges, construction outputs for many sectors fell. This inability to conduct business as usual led to the global construction sector shrinking by 3.1% in 2020, 5.3% excluding China, a decline unseen since the financial collapse of 2008.

 

Irish construction experienced the most severe restrictions and shutdowns, and still, housing output exceeded expectations – such is the tenacity of our industry. However, the first three months of this year recorded a 21 percent drop in production when compared with Q1 2020. Estimates predict that just 16,000 to 19,000 homes will now be built this year, a far cry from the 35,000 Ireland needs to address the housing crisis. While this slow progress is largely due to the Irish industry being shut down for the first quarter of 2021, progress was slow even in countries where construction could continue.

 

In an article for WorldBank.org, a team of analysts, consultants, and regulatory specialists have detailed how digitalization helped some in the industry continue working. Namely, the article points out how the digitalization of permit approval and virtual inspections allowed the construction sector in some countries to continue. Unhampered by stay at home orders, these digital solutions allowed progress even during the height of the pandemic. You can read the article in full here: https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/building-during-pandemic-disruption-and-digital-transformation-construction and below are just a few of the more interesting global insights. 

 

Digitalization of Permits

Disruption to the construction industry came in large part from social distancing orders. Governments around the world attempted to limit the transmission of the disease through measures that reduced the proximity of people to one another. For construction, this proved difficult, with one-way systems and limited workforce numbers creating bottlenecks in production.

 

The Los Angeles Department of Buildings, for example, implemented 16 rules recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Similar to Ireland, these included on-site controls such as social distancing, face coverings, and handwashing, with mandatory compliance inspections.

 

One of the positives to come from the disruption, however, is the renewed interest in how digital tools can help the industry.

 

The digitizing of the permit process is one area that has seen particular focus. Countries with a fully digital permit granting process saw their construction industry continue despite the unprecedented issues. In these countries, planning, zoning, and permission granting were streamlined and conducted remotely, meaning little to no disruption to the process.

 

Online portals that facilitate the permit process have been around since 2007. Singapore’s online permit platform can even be traced back to 2001, now allowing digital building plans to be submitted remotely. With a completely paperless process, the checking and approval of plans continued undisrupted by COVID-19, despite a total lockdown in April and May of 2020.

 

Other countries, such as Morocco, improved their own digital facilities with their Rokhas platform. Improving functionality, they allowed video conference calls to review plans. Elsewhere, Yangon (Myanmar) and Benin digitized their application processes to keep the industry moving forward.

 

With Ireland’s Build Digital project, the hope is that Irish construction will soon reap the same benefits, incorporating digital practices into the industry from start to finish. Amongst other innovations, the Build Digital plans include a provision to digitize the planning application process.

 

Virtual Inspections

As well as progress in digitalizing the planning process, authorities across the globe also had the issue of quality control to contend with. Under strict stay-at-home orders, many inspection officials were unable to visit sites freely. While some countries had to simply slow or stop construction, others fared a lot better thanks to digital tools.

 

Kuwait, for example, replaced in-person inspections with digital photographs. These high-quality photographs allowed qualified engineers to conduct quality control remotely, keeping worksites moving forward. Miami, USA, implemented their own form of virtual inspection. Using Microsoft Teams or Zoom, engineers there are now regularly in contact with control officials. In the United Arab Emirates, inspection has taken even greater strides towards digitalization with the regular use of aerial drones. These allow remote, virtual inspections of job sites and make it safer to inspect dangerous locations.

 

Remaining Challenges

The WorldBank report authors believe there are still some unresolved issues that need addressing before e-permits and virtual inspections become the norm:

 

• Improved cybersecurity and privacy measures to keep data safe
• Implementation of video conferencing into existing platforms
• Standardized 3D and 4D formats for digital files
• Better integration of electronic payments
• Access by all relevant agencies in the building process to digital platforms.

 

Most importantly, the relevance and advantages of further digitalization need to be promoted to civil servants and the private sector. The article details that in the US, 60 percent of local building permit departments cannot perform remote virtual inspections, and 40 percent cannot conduct remote reviews of building plans.

 

With global viral outbreaks set to be more common in the future, the ability for the industry to continue unabated will come from digitalization. With the Irish government’s Build Digital strategy, Ireland’s construction industry will soon see the same digital solutions.

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

In a comprehensive and detailed report, international colleagues from the McKinsey management consultancy firm have published a breakdown of the construction industry’s decarbonization efforts, highlighting the importance of design to a building’s sustainability. With rising corporate awareness of the issue, and with governmental and customer interest in energy-efficient housing growing all the time, creating a sustainable sector benefits everyone. The report can be accessed in full here: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/engineering-construction-and-building-materials/our-insights/call-for-action-seizing-the-decarbonization-opportunity-in-construction 

 

The Construction Industry’s GHG Contribution

While environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, metrics attempt to gauge the sustainability of a business as a whole, for the construction industry, it’s the environmental factor that relates directly to the issue of greenhouse gases (GHG).

 Evaluating the construction sector’s contribution to global GHG emissions is not easy. However, the McKinsey article estimates the industry is responsible for around 25 percent of total GHG emissions and 40 percent of carbon fuel combustion contributions.

Aside from GHG emissions, the other areas that the construction industry needs to address are:

-Waste production

-Water consumption

-Particulate matter air pollution

 

Though the article focuses specifically on the emission of GHGs, it establishes that these additional issues are something that a sustainable industry would need to look at. High water usage, for example, is well-known for carrying with it a considerable carbon footprint, with the industry currently requiring 200 liters of water per cubic meter of concrete.

The two key aspects of the construction ecosystem that are driving up GHG emissions are the raw materials used in infrastructure and building, and the lifetime operation of the building itself.

 The manufacturing and processing of materials are estimated to account for around 30 percent of the industry’s carbon emissions per year, with most of this coming from cement and steel production. Building operations account for the other 70 percent. This operational contribution is attributable to the poor insulation and energy inefficiencies of existing buildings.

 Early-stage designing with sustainability in mind is the best way to reduce a building’s lifetime GHG contribution. These design measures include multi-use or flexible floor spaces, building size considerations, and due consideration of whether renovating or repurposing existing buildings would be a more efficient option. 

However, with the Net Zero target of 2050 well-established and almost 80 percent of the building stock for that date already built, the necessity for retrofitting to meet sustainability goals is clear. If unmet, the issue will compound with construction’s carbon output expected to grow as it tries to meet growing demand, which in Ireland, is now close to 50,000 new homes per year.

 

Carbon Abatement: Existing Builds

As mentioned above, to achieve the Net Zero goal, the report authors argue that it will require not only sustainable design and building of new assets but also the reuse of existing stock. They believe that there needs to be clear goals for all players within the industry, however, the report anticipates that achieving these goals will result in substantial cost savings over the longer term. It should be noted that the decarbonization pathway for construction has an average cost per tonne of CO2 that is significantly lower than other industries. Also, heating is considered one of the key ways to curtail CO2 output.  Up to 70 percent of the EU’s energy use is directly related to the heating of buildings. This high energy use is down to the existing building stock’s thermal insulation being insufficient and poorly designed heating control systems. Upgrading insulation can reduce the energy demand of a building by 30 percent over a 50-year lifespan.

 Complimenting the improvement of these is the increased use of renewable energy to deliver heat to these buildings. This abatement method involves moving the industry towards the use of heat pumps, district heating, biogas, and solar thermal where possible. The McKinsey authors argue that increased use of such renewable heating technologies would see a 72 percent reduction in operation emissions within buildings and drive the cost of the technologies down over time.

 

GHG Emission Reduction in New Builds

With such a high proportion of the GHG emissions relating to operations locked into existing builds, the report considers a pathway for net-zero carbon with new builds. This primarily involves the decarbonization of materials.

 

This can be achieved through three key measures:

– Demand reduction and circularity. This involves reducing waste, increasing the recycling of materials, and designing so that primary resource demand is lowered.

– Optimizing construction and material use. By switching to high-efficiency, low-carbon materials through offsite production and modern methods of construction (MMC), the industry can drastically reduce its overall carbon footprint.

– The decarbonization of materials. By reducing the CO2 emitted during the production and processing of materials, the industry can further its way to sustainability. This can involve the increased use of electrification in the process and implementing production efficiencies and technological advancements.

 

The use of low-carbon materials, offsite production and other MMC is likely to be the most impactful way for the industry to achieve its net-zero goal.

 Critically, with any given construction project involving many different players, industry-wide cooperation is needed to achieve carbon neutrality. The McKinsey report suggests this may well involve some drastic changes in philosophy, particularly around up-front costs versus lifetime costs of a building. It will also require a major shift towards MMC and the implementation of nascent technologies. As the report points out, “…the drive to sustainability is racing ahead…accelerating this journey and addressing the challenge head-on will be the key”.

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

 

Ireland’s Proposed Workplace Ventilation Bill

 

Over the past 18 months, with much of the world ravaged by COVID-19, governments globally have resorted to implementing prolonged lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus. With only key workers out on our roads, many cities across the globe found a significant reduction in air pollution, with formerly smog-ridden landscapes in places like China experiencing clearer air.

 In an article for The Conversation, University of York Researchers David Carslaw and Nicola Carlslaw describe how, with outdoor pollution likely to reduce over the coming decades, there now needs to be an increased focus on indoor air quality. You can read this article in full here: https://theconversation.com/amp/air-pollution-exposure-is-shifting-from-outdoor-to-indoor-heres-why-163410

Earlier this week People Before Profit launched a campaign for the Workplace Ventilation Bill, which, if passed, could force bars and schools in Irelands with poor ventilation to close. The party’s Employment Rights spokesperson, Paul Murphy, says proper ventilation standards are needed to cap the amount of CO2 allowed indoors and enable workers to request an inspection if they’re concerned about compliance. Workplaces that fail to comply with an inspector’s ‘improvement notice’ could be forced to shut. Current laws require workplaces to ensure ‘sufficient fresh air’, however, there is no clarity about what this entails. McKeon Group company https://hereworks.ie specialises in Smart Buildings (and Happy Buildings!), with an expert focus on indoor air quality. With Irish construction standards resulting in increasingly insulated and airtight homes, concerns about indoor air quality are growing. 

 

Side-Effects of Electric Vehicle Use

The two researchers are at pains to point out that while a reduction in road traffic is good for photo opportunities comparing smog levels, other factors need to be considered regarding air pollution with far-reaching ramifications for indoor planning and facilities management.

With more and more people opting for electric vehicles and nation’s around the world setting cut-off dates for non-green vehicle production, it does appear the reign of fossil fuel is over. One of the most striking problems put forward as we move towards a greener future is that we may find an increase in respiratory problems.

 While vehicles have been one of the primary sources of air pollution over past decades, this move to electric vehicles means less nitrogen oxide is being released into the atmosphere. One of the few benefits of this pollutant is that it neutralises the toxic gas, ozone, released by industrial activity. High up in our atmosphere, this gas forms a protective seal around our planet, however, unneutralised and down in our communities and urban areas, it acts as a pollutant, causing respiratory problems like asthma.

 

Ozone Gas Moves Indoors

The concern is that this pernicious gas moves freely from outside to inside our buildings, through our windows, open doors, and even cracks in exterior walls, bringing the problem of outdoor pollutants well and truly indoors. Corroborating this claim is a 2020 UK government report that used computer modeling to establish a 50 percent increase in indoor ozone gas during COVID-19 related lockdowns.

 Worryingly, the University of York researchers explain that after finding its way indoors, ozone gas begins to react with chemicals related to indoor activity, such as household cleaning solutions. These newly emitted pollutants often pose significant risks to our health.

 

Indoor Air Pollution and Ventilation

Citing a report by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the article explains that ozone is but one of the issues affecting indoor air quality. Common-place activities such as cooking a steak on a gas hob, for example, will release nitrogen oxide and particulates into our immediate environment, as well as the volatile organic compounds emitted from scented cleaning products and candles.

 The issue is also seen as compounding, with some of these harmful compounds forming new pollutants as they react with the higher levels of indoor ozone. Also compounding the issue is the increased use of airtight seals in modern construction. While these seals afford better energy efficiency, they don’t allow harmful gases and pollutants produced by indoor activity to escape. The emphasis on adequate ventilation systems is therefore expected to increase, aside from the pandemic-induced measures.

 And with many now continuing to work from home, our indoor air quality is more important than ever. Due to an increasing trend of spending time indoors, the majority of pollution we are likely to encounter in the future will come from within our own homes and workplaces.

 

A Complex Problem

While ventilation allows the dilution of pollutants, it offers the chance for more ozone gas to enter our buildings, meaning any proposed solutions are unlikely to be straightforward.

With long-term exposure to air pollution leading to serious health issues such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, the need to understand the issue becomes pressing. The drive to produce clean air outside is making the issue of clean air inside a complex problem. The researchers point out that the effects of outdoor pollutants such as nitrogen oxide are relatively well understood compared to the indoor pollutants that have, so far, gone unstudied.

For expert advice in this area, contact the team at McKeon Group. 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

 

Last year was a special one for us. 

Notwithstanding the grip Covid-19 had on the industry, and indeed on the country, in 2020, McKeon Group celebrated its 70th year in business.  As part of the anniversary celebrations, we collaborated with Ashbourne & District Lions Club to search for local heroes through the www.AshbourneHeroes.ie community campaign; you can read about our celebratory initiatives here: https://mckeon.ie/mckeon-group-celebrates-70-years-in-the-industry/

 

Beyond 2020

As a team, we committed to a year of giving back and this theme continues through a series of initiatives and voluntary construction projects. Earlier this month, members of the McKeon charity innovation team gave up their weekend to spruce up Priory Youthreach, which is based in Tallaght Village. 

Youthreach is a nationwide State education programme, which, at a local level, provides academic, personal and social support for young people, in a safe and enjoyable manner.​ Priory Youthreach is run by Paul Curtis and the centre operates on a tight budget. McKeon Group had recently carried out some works for them and our contracts manager Arthur Bennett saw an opportunity to contribute so the team organised a volunteer day of internal painting of the walls to help out.

Huge thanks to all the McKeon team for their contributions and a special word of thanks to The Brass Fox in Tallaght for supporting this initiative and keeping our hardworking team fed for the day!

 

 

 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

We are delighted to announce our sponsorship of the prestigious Fit Out Awards 2021 for the fifth year. This year McKeon Group has chosen to sponsor the category of  ‘Design Practice of the Year’. As a third generation business offering construction, fit out and building services, we recognise and appreciate the value of great design and what that brings to a successful fit out project. Also, as past winners at these awards, we know firsthand the reputational benefits of showcasing great work and having that work recognised by our industry peers.

The Fit Out Awards 2021 ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 21st, and it is set to be another unmissable occasion. According to the event organisers, the event format  has changed in line with pandemic-responsive guidelines to reflect the times in which we all now live. It is envisaged that the 2021 awards ceremony will be a hybrid event, with an ‘in-person’ VIP Room in a venue, subject to Government/public health advice in November, together with a simultaneous digital broadcast hosted on a virtual venue (networking platform).

Last year’s attendees included One Microsoft Court, Ethos Engineering, McKeon Group, Hibernia Reit Headquarters, Eden One, IDA Ireland and lots more, so we are looking forward to an evening of celebrating with our industry colleagues!

It has been a challenging 15 months for the entire industry and the fit out sector is no exception. There has never been a better time, or indeed a more important time, to bring peers together and to celebrate the successful projects of the year. We hope that you will consider applying for the 2021 Awards (https://www.fitoutawards.ie) and maybe attending the ceremony on November 24th, in person or online. 

The deadline for entries is September 9th 2021. Further details about the award categories, together with links to enter can be found here: https://www.fitoutawards.ie 

Best of luck to all companies entering the awards this year!

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie