A major heritage project in Kildare has been shortlisted for a top honour at the Irish Building and Design Awards.
The Shackleton Experience in Athy has been named as a finalist in the Building Project of the Year 2026 category, recognising outstanding construction and design projects across Ireland.
Members of the public can vote here and voting ends at 5.30pm on Friday.
The redevelopment saw the restoration and extension of the historic Market House building in the centre of Athy, transforming it into a modern museum dedicated to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.
The project combined conservation work on the protected structure with contemporary design, including the striking glass extension known as the “Iceberg”. The addition creates a new visual entrance to the museum while clearly distinguishing the modern elements from the historic building.
The building itself dates back more than 300 years and previously housed the Athy Heritage Centre, library and fire service. During the project, conservation specialists worked to restore original features such as the brick vaulting in the undercroft while upgrading the building for its new role as a museum.
The redevelopment was delivered as part of a wider investment by Kildare County Council aimed at revitalising the town centre and boosting tourism.
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The vision behind the Shackleton Experience is to create a world-class polar museum and international reference point for the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration. The museum also highlights climate change and the importance of the polar regions.
A key feature of the project is the restored cabin from Shackleton’s final expedition ship Quest, which was carefully installed in the building as part of the exhibition.
The construction project also faced a number of challenges, including working within a tight town-centre site, managing road closures around busy streets and markets, and carrying out conservation works on a protected historic structure.
Despite these challenges, the finished project now offers an immersive visitor experience designed to attract international tourists and encourage visitors to explore other attractions in Athy.
The Building Project of the Year category at the Irish Building and Design Awards celebrates projects that demonstrate excellence in design, construction and innovation.
Public voting is open as part of the awards process, with the winner to be announced later this year.
