THE full range of Northern Ireland's construction efforts will be assessed by a team of experts to pick the most outstanding in their field.
Thirty-three projects from across the north have been selected in categories including Commercial, Student Accommodation, Heritage, Education, Healthcare, Residential, Infrastructure, and Leisure.
Section winners will be voted on by a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors panel and `other experts' and an overall winner will also be announced at a ceremony on May 21.
They will be assessed on their role in transforming communities and the everyday lives of people and the successful projects will go on to a UK grand final in September, where property expert David Brooks Wilson will lead a panel of guest judges.
Among the shortlisted `builds' highlighted by the competition is Belfast's Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Support Centre, a state-of-the-art building designed to help fire fighters by the testing and maintenance of new emergency response equipment.
Long term unemployed people were employed to help with construction - giving them new skills and experience for future job opportunities.
Also in the running is Lisburn City Centre public realm improvements, part of a £5 million transformation of the city centre featuring a regenerated Market Square which has been credited with attracting more shoppers back to using high street shops, helped reduce homelessness by 10 per cent and driving down antisocial behaviour.
Portrush Train Station has also been highlighted for delivering "a brand-new train station to support the 148th Golf Open at Royal Portrush".
Developers are praised for involving local schools as part of an education programme, holding a beach clean-up day and donating materials and tools to residents who wanted to improve the town with new planters.
Susan Mason head of RICS Northern Ireland said the awards "celebrate the positive impact that our professionals can have on people's lives and the best of what is built".
"This year's shortlist features some of the best talent in our profession, and the new Social Impact Awards recognises the significant value these projects have brought to the communities around them.
"The judges will have their work cut out deciding on who gets the top award with so many top projects involved.
"Our shortlists, showcase projects which have been turning people's lives around, whether that's through apprenticeships for young people, rehabilitating ex-offenders or regenerating towns and cities to make them more inclusive, and we hope that promoting these will encourage more talent into a profession that can really make a difference."
Chair of the award judging panel David Brooks Wilson said the shortlist "shows the power of built environment professionals to make a positive impact on society and our communities".
Project Region Categories
123 York Street Belfast Commercial, Student Accommodation
Boarding Extension at Campbell College Belfast Student Accommodation
Bramley Business Centre Richill Heritage
Carrickfergus Castle Roof Replacement Carrickfergus Heritage
Coleraine Library Coleraine Education
Corriewood Private Clinic Castlewellan Healthcare
Elms BT1 & BT2, Queens University Belfast Student Accommodation
Eden Square Derry Residential
Full Circle Generation – Energy
from Waste Belfast Infrastructure
Golden Gate Greenisland Residential
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Visitor Facilities Hillsborough Heritage, Leisure
HMRC Belfast Regional Centre Fit Out Belfast Commercial
Killean Primary School Newry Education
Killeavy Castle Hotel and
Wellness Centre Killeavy Heritage, Leisure
Lawnfield Close Newcastle Residential
Leisure Transformation Programme Belfast Leisure
Lisburn City Centre Public Realm Lisburn Infrastructure
Mew Island Lighthouse Optic Relocation Belfast Heritage
NIRFS Service Support Centre Belfast Commercial, Infrastructure
Old Mill Court Sion Mills Residential
Ormeau Avenue Sewerage
Improvement Scheme Belfast Infrastructure
Peartree Barn Nursery Ltd Lisburn Commercial
Portrush Train Station Portrush Commercial, Infrastructure
Project FLEX Belfast Commercial
QUB McClay Library Phase 3 Belfast Education
St Bronagh’s Primary School Rostrevor Education
St. Mary’s Parish Lavey Heritage
Strabane Academy – Phase 1 Strabane Education
The Acute Mental Health Inpatient
Centre (AMHIC) Belfast Healthcare
The Church of the Holy and
Undivided Trinity Magheralin Heritage
The Courtyards at Montalto Ballynahinch Commercial
The Lanyon Building Conservation
and Restoration Project Belfast Education, Heritage
The Merchant House & Mews Donaghadee Heritage, Residential
