22 Buildings Participate in Building of the Year 2023 Competition

Twenty-two buildings were submitted to the competition "Concrete Structure of the Year 2023" organized by the Estonian Concrete Association and the Estonian Association of Building Material Producers.

"The palette of buildings participating in the competition is rich in terms of purpose, technical implementation methods, and geography," said Imre Leetma, chairman of the board of the Estonian Concrete Association. "This time, as many as four new school buildings are participating in the concrete structure competition," Leetma added.

According to Imre Leetma, concrete demonstrates its wide possibilities in residential construction – the competition features seven residential apartment complexes, as well as four very different concrete structures using both site-cast concrete and factory-produced concrete element production methods.

The board of the Estonian Concrete Association confirmed all 22 buildings submitted to the competition as nominees for "Concrete Structure of the Year 2023."

"The capabilities of Estonia's concrete sector are convincingly demonstrated by the Riia Street intersection viaduct in Tartu, the Saarde wind farm in Pärnumaa, and the Kalevi Stadium fire tower in Tallinn. For the first time, a 3D-printed concrete wall – the "Pitser" Kiviõli joint building wall – is participating in the competition," said Toomas Vainola, executive director of the Estonian Concrete Association. "The export capabilities of Estonian concrete construction are demonstrated by the prestigious Radisson RED Hotel built in Helsinki."

Candidates for the 2023 Concrete Structure of the Year title are:

1. Office Building Tammsaare 56, Park Tondi, Tammsaare tee 56, Kristiine, Tallinn
2. House Nurmenuku 4, Kiili Municipality, Harjumaa
3. House Pirita, Tallinn
4. House Pirita, Purje 3a, Tallinn
5. House Püü 1b, Kristiine, Tallinn
6. Kalevi Stadium Fire Tower, Staadioni 3, Kesklinn, Tallinn
7. Kiviõli Fire and Rescue Board and Police and Border Guard Board Joint Building, Viru 23, Kiviõli, Ida-Virumaa
8. Lahekalda Apartment Buildings, Paekalda 23/1 and 23/2, Lasnamäe, Tallinn
9. Mustamäe Youth Center, Vilde tee 54, Tallinn
10. Mustamäe State Gymnasium, Akadeemia tee 25, Tallinn
11. Narva Gymnasium, A. Puškini 31, Narva
12. Noblessner Quarter Seaplane Residential and Commercial Buildings, North Tallinn, Tallinn
13. Odra House, Lastekodu 31/Odra 6, Kesklinn, Tallinn
14. Pitser – Kiviõli Fire and Rescue Board and Police and Border Guard Board Joint Building, Viru 23, Kiviõli, Ida-Virumaa
15. Pöörise Residential Area, Mustamäe, Tallinn
16. Radisson RED Hotel, Vuorikatu 24, Helsinki, Finland
17. Rae Gymnasium Support Walls and Bicycle Shelter, Aruküla tee 22, Jüri, Rae Municipality, Harjumaa
18. Rannakalda Development, Lammi 8, Haabersti, Tallinn
19. Riia Viaduct, Riia mnt, Tartu ring road, Tartu
20. Saarde Wind Farm, Saarde Municipality, Pärnumaa
21. Uus-Veerenni Apartment Buildings, V-phase, Veerenni 36b and Pille 11, Kesklinn, Tallinn
22. Volta Residences, Uus-Volta 12 and Mootori 7, North Tallinn, Tallinn.

See also: https://www.betoon.org/aasta-betoonehitis/ab-2023/nominendid/

The aim of the competition is to find and highlight buildings whose appearance and efficient and economical implementation demonstrate the advantages and possibilities of concrete as a domestic material.

A structure or method wins if significant input has been made by businesses registered in Estonia and concrete materials supplied from Estonia. When selecting the winning work, the professionalism and demands of the object's design and construction, quality, and innovativeness are also considered.

The main prize belongs to the author of the winning idea. Recognition is given to the client, designer, contractor, and supplier of concrete and reinforcement of the winning structure.

The jury of the competition, which is being organized for the twenty-fourth time, includes representatives of the Estonian Association of Architects, the Estonian Concrete Association, the Estonian Association of Construction Entrepreneurs, the Estonian Association of Construction Engineers, the Estonian Association of Construction Consultation Companies, the Estonian Association of Building Material Producers, Heidelberg Materials Kunda, and construction journalism.

The competition's jury began its work in January.

The winner will be announced on Concrete Day in March 2024.