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Clare, Offaly and Donegal students win ATU Built Environment Student Challenge
Students judged on four tasks associated with development of an 18-apartment building. Adjudication panel made up of 10 industry representatives.
ATU engineering students Shauna Cleary from Birr, Co Offaly, Sean McNamara from Carron, Co Clare and Odhran Quinn from Donegal town, Co Donegal, won first place in this year’s ATU Galway Student Challenge. They were among 85 final year Building & Civil Engineering students who took part in the day-long competition in ATU Galway on Thursday last (30 January 2025), judged by 10 industry representatives.
The student teams had to consider an 18-apartment development currently under construction in Galway and produce four tasks by lunchtime,
1. A Risk Register with associated cost contingencies;
2. A Review of the extent of fit out and finish provided for each apartment to optimise the available sales price and margin;
3.A Method Statement showing a clear sequence of activities for the excavation of the basement (including any necessary temporary works) and the construction/installation of new permanent basement structure;
4. A Logistics Plan (to include consideration of deliveries, cranage and loading bays.
In the afternoon, the multidisciplinary student teams (in disciplines such as Architectural Technology, Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering and Construction Management) had to present their work to panels of the expert judges and deal with their questions.
The adjudication panel was comprised of Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Sisk, BAM Ireland, JJ Rhatigan, Coffey, RPS, Simon J Kelly Architects, Eugene Mulcaire Architect, Peter F Costello & Partners (QS) and Linesight (QS).
John Hanahoe, Building & Civil Engineering Dept, says: “The students really enjoyed this event as it gets them to work with their colleagues from other disciplines and also to meet with experts from industry. Many of the judges return year after year as they also really enjoy the event, and we are grateful to them for their continuing support.”
Michelle Fahey, Building & Civil Engineering Dept, says: “The ATU Student Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for students to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment. The tasks were challenging and reflected the type of issues that they would experience in the workplace. This challenge allowed them to put what they have learnt over the last four years into practice. The students enjoyed showcasing their work to an experienced panel of industry judges, and we are grateful to the judges for giving their time to the challenge again this year”.
Justin Molloy, Director, Western and Midland Region, Construction Industry Federation, says: “The Annual Built Environment Student Challenge allowed me to connect with the next generation of construction professionals. The future of the industry is certainly in capable hands. Congratulations to all the students and their lecturers for their hard work and dedication to the challenge.”
For further details on built environment courses in ATU Galway-Mayo, see:
