Architecture Awards 2026 Most Innovative Architecture Practice 2026 – Ireland Contemporary Architectural Design Excellence Award 2026 – Ireland Situated in Sligo, CORD Architects is a contemporary architecture practice creating buildings and spaces that respond sensitively to their context while making a positive social and environmental contribution. The practice has earned renown for delivering thoughtful, context-driven solutions that respond to the unique opportunities of each project it undertakes. We caught up with Director Shane Colreavy to find out more, as CORD Architects is recognised in the Architecture Awards 2026. Since 2017, CORD Architects has been dedicated to transforming what can often be a complex journey into one that feels clearer, collaborative, and rewarding. The practice provides a complete architectural service that spans from concept to completion, guiding the client through every stage of the construction process. From the first conversation and initial feasibility studies to planning, technical design, and project delivery, the team works closely with each client to turn their dreams into reality. At CORD Architects, every project begins with listening and understanding. The team takes the time to understand each client’s aspirations, the unique characteristics of their site, and the wider context of the project before developing a brief and a design response. This approach is driven by the practice’s belief that successful architecture is never a generic solution; instead, every project deserves an approach that is tailored to its users, its location, and its purpose. “Relationships are at the heart of our practice,” Shane told us. “We believe the best projects come from genuine collaboration, where trust, open communication, and a shared vision lead to better design outcomes. We are driven by a passion for creating places that improve the way people live, work, and interact, balancing creativity with practicality to deliver buildings that are beautiful, sustainable, functional, and both socially and contextually aware.” Rather than pursuing a recognisable architectural style, CORD Architects focuses on creating thoughtful, context-driven design solutions that directly respond to the unique opportunities of each project. Regardless of its scale or sector, every commission is approached with the same level of care, creativity, and technical rigour that has earned CORD Architects the Contemporary Architectural Design Excellence Award 2026 in Ireland. This distinguished perspective particularly shone through one of CORD Architects’ more recent projects, the design of a contemporary office headquarters through the adaptive reuse of a disused warehouse in Ireland. Rather than beginning with a blank canvas, the team saw an opportunity to unlock the potential of an existing structure, demonstrating how thoughtful design can breathe new life into buildings that might otherwise be overlooked. With this project, the design challenge was not to preserve the warehouse’s industrial character, but to fundamentally redefine it. CORD Architects focused on softening the building’s presence, introducing warmth, openness, and natural light to create an environment that feels welcoming rather than utilitarian. By carefully adapting the existing structure, CORD Architects’ design creates a contemporary workspace that supports the way people work today while demonstrating the environmental value of giving an existing building a new purpose. What has made this project particularly meaningful is its wider contribution to the built environment. Occupying a prominent gateway site at the entrance to a major town, the building has stood vacant and underutilised for many years. The approved proposals will transform the site into a modern headquarters for CORD Architects’ client whilst revitalising a key landmark, enhancing the character of the area, and making a positive contribution to the town’s evolving identity. “For us, architecture extends beyond the boundaries of a building,” Shane shared. “It is about understanding context, responding sensitively to place, and creating environments that have a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. This project reflects those principles, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can provide a commercially viable and environmentally responsible alternative to demolition and new construction whilst reinforcing the identity of the surrounding landscape.” Looking ahead, the remainder of 2026 represents an exciting period for CORD Architects. The team are currently looking forward to entering the next chapter of CORD Architects, as the practice finalises plans for new office premises. This development marks an important milestone in the practice’s continued growth, and reflects the CORD Architects team’s confidence in its future growth. Beyond these developments, CORD Architects is also preparing to expand its project portfolio. Its team are currently progressing a diverse range of projects across a number of sectors, ensuring that CORD Architects continues delivering thoughtful, sustainable architecture for new and existing clients alike. For its exceptional contributions to the architectural industry, setting new benchmarks of excellence in thoughtful, context-driven design, CORD Architects has been named Ireland’s Most Innovative Architecture Practice 2026. Contact: Shane Colreavy MRIAI(IRL) Registered Architect & MCIOB Chartered Construction Manager Company: CORD Architects Web Address: www.cord.ie CORD Architects
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY1MjM3