A church restoration has carried off the top prize at a major NI awards ceremony, which celebrate the best of the Northern Ireland industry and underlines its recent achievements.

Patton Construction has been awarded with the top prize at the 2009 Construction Employers Federations (CEF) Specify Construction Excellence Awards for Wellington Street Presbyterian Church in Ballymena.

The company beat 100 other entries, which included high profile projects such as the Ulster Hall refurbishment and the Fitzwilliam Hotel and Queen's University Mathematics and Library Building.

The Managing Director of CEF, John Armstrong, emphasized the quality of the building: "The 17-strong judging panel of experts were highly impressed by this outstanding project which has made a wonderful contribution to the community."

According to him, the local industry has flourished in the last 10 years - since the inception of the awards - and a sense of self-belief has appeared in the sector. "There has been fresh thinking, a commitment to quality and an absolute refusal to accept that Northern Ireland can't be world class," he said.

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Armstrong stated: "There has been an improvement in both, how we build and in how we have complemented the existing built environment."

He said he considered not only that the process has improved, but it has also improved the product.

Speaking about the economic recession, he said: "In the face of this challenge the whole industry, from the client down through the supply chain, must re-commit to the highest standards."

Last week, in the Awards gala dinner, Stormont Junior Minister Gerry Kelly affirmed that the NI Executive is committed to helping the construction industry in the present downturn.

In fact, he considered that without last year's Government investment in the sector, the impact of economic crisis would have been much worse.

Mr Kelly also highlighted the importance of integrating social considerations in the procurement of construction projects, "particularly in this difficult period", he commented.

Other winners included W J Law & Company for Ballantine Garden Village in Lisburn and FP McCann for the Tullygarley bridge-widening in Ballymena.

O'Hare and McGovern received the Award Excellence Partnering for their approach to partnering on Queen's Mathematics and Library Building.

See: Junior Minister Praises Building Industry

See: FGA Pick-Up Top CEF Awards For Victoria Square

(CL/BMcc)