The winning entry is the National High-Level Isolation Unit (NHLIU) Project at the Mater Hospital Dublin (MMUH) submitted by J V Tierney Consulting Engineers. 

The NHLIU is a purpose-built biocontainment facility, which enables the safe diagnosis, treatment and management of highly infectious patients while, simultaneously protecting MMUH staff, the public and hospital operations from secondary transmission of high-consequence infectious diseases. 

Due to the unique nature of the unit and in the absence of any directly applicable HTM or HBN guidance documents, it was necessary for the designers to undertake extensive research of technical literature to determine the appropriate complex mechanical and electrical systems required. The “lessons learned “from this research were incorporated directly into the design of the complex M&E systems for the NHLIU. 

Given the specialised nature of the project, mandatory quality assurance and quality management standards were achieved by meticulous planning and intensive supervision, witnessing and testing of the me installations.