O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects have been presented with the RIAI Gold Medal by the President Mary McAleese. At an event at the RIAI in Merrion Square, Ranelagh Multidenominational School was announced as the winner of the medal for the period 1998-2000.

The RIAI Gold Medal is awarded for a building completed within a defined three year period and intended to celebrate the best of contemporary architecture. The award is made three to five years after completion so buildings can be judged in a mature state

Previous winners include Desmond FitzGerald for the original terminal building at Dublin airport (1944), Michael Scott for Busáras (1952), Liam McCormick for Burt Church, Co Donegal (1966), and Arthur Gibney for the IMI, Sandyford, Co Dublin (1974).

The architects succinctly resolved the parameters of both the programme and a restricted site in a conservation area to come up with a building whose elegant massing and interwoven series of indoor and outdoor spaces – hollowed out within a shell of recycled brickwork – go far beyond the requirements of the brief. The interpretation of what a 'standard' eight-classroom school can be has produced a learning environment that clearly has an uplifting effect on both children and staff, and which has also developed into a vibrant community centre. (RIAI)

Fingal County Hall, by Bucholz McEvoy Architects won the Public Poll Awards, an open vote held by the RIAI on their website. In a similar poll on Archiseek.com, the building was also selected as the favourite with 21.34% of the total vote.