The most prestigious awards for construction professionals are handed out

It is now a tradition that the most important awards of the construction industry are presented in the Mátyás Room of the Mercure Budapest Castle Hill hotel. As is customary over the years, five professionals were awarded the Lechner Ödön Prize at the closing gala of the National Association of Building Contractors, where, unusually, a certificate of recognition was also awarded. The award, founded in 1994, is the most prestigious recognition of the Hungarian construction industry and is named after the world-famous master of Art Nouveau architecture, the creator of Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture. It is awarded on the basis of outstanding professional and social contribution to the sector over the long term.

In addition to the Construction Industry Quality Awards and Quality Award Certificates, the Lechner Ödön Awards, the Construction Industry Master Awards, the Construction Creator Awards, the Sándy Gyula Award and the Building Services Engineering Quality Awards were also presented at the event. The announcement of the long-standing Construction Industry Excellence Awards, announced at the ceremonial general meeting, can be found in a separate article at separate article.

The construction economy in serious transition

At the ceremony, László Koji, President of ÉVOSZ, gave a speech on the expectations and opportunities for 2024 in his annual welcome speech, while Regő Lánszki State Secretary for Architecture made a presentation on the main focus of the government's activities in the construction industry in 2024.

As President László Koji said: 2023 was a year of waiting: waiting for contract amendments, waiting for customers - as this year the order book was 30% smaller; but also waiting for the new rules. After presenting the annual business survey, he pointed out,

"On the threshold of a new world, training, a common database and common efficiency gains can help us get back on top of the roller coaster. Sure, we'll have to paddle a lot more next year to keep the boat in place, but we are world class at paddling."

State Secretary Regő Lánszki also stressed that over the past year and a half, an exemplary relationship has been established between Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium and the economic operators involved in the construction sector in Samoa. "This is not a gesture of courtesy, as the construction industry cannot change without the support of the profession." They want to correct decades of mistakes, rewrite the rules and adapt the framework of professional works to economic interests, because this is what best serves the Hungarian economy. As he concluded:

"With the two new laws (the Building Act and the Investment Act - editor's note) and the strategy for the building economy, we are taking an important step forward. I am confident that with the cooperation of the Ministry and the construction industry we can contribute to the development of Hungary, the enrichment of our built environment, the innovation of the Hungarian construction industry and the further growth of the Hungarian economy."

Ödön Lechner Prize

The Ödön Lechner Prize is awarded to individuals who have done outstanding and exemplary work in the field of construction over a long period of time. The prize, which consists of a gold medal and a certificate, will be awarded to five people in accordance with the rules of the foundation, so that in 2023

• Szabolcs Riesz, Deputy Director of the CÉH Zrt. Project Management Office, in recognition of his outstanding work as a project manager, project promoter, project manager and technical inspector for building construction.
• Dr. Kinga Szabó, Deputy CEO of NOX Zrt., in recognition of his efforts to create a sustainable and circular construction economy and his outstanding professional work for the development of the construction industry.
• Tibor Dávid, CEO of Masterplast Nyrt, ÉVOSZ in recognition of its outstanding advocacy work in the field of the domestic building materials industry and its wide-ranging social activities.
• Gábor Vörös, production manager of ZÁÉV Zrt., in recognition of outstanding professional work in the field of building construction.
• Dr. Tamás Zanathy, legal adviser to Market Építő Zrt., for promoting effective cooperation between employers and employees in the construction sector, in recognition of his outstanding professional work in the development of collective agreements in the construction sector.
• He also received a certificate of recognition (which he was unable to receive at the Builders' Day in June) Attila Tóth, President of CÉH Zrt., in recognition of outstanding professional achievements in the field of construction for the development of the construction industry.

Master of Construction Award

The Master of Construction Award, which includes a bronze statuette, plaque and certificate of recognition, was established to recognise excellence in construction. Founded by Építési Vállalkozók Országos Szakszövetsége (ÉVOSZ) and the Building Science Association (BSA), who were joined by several national building and architectural organisations, the Master Craftsman Award is now one of the most significant awards in the building profession, and is effectively awarded 'in the name of the profession'. The 2023 awards were presented by László Wéber, President of the Master Craftsman Award Foundation for Construction

• for the design and construction works for the final structure of the tunnel of the m85 motorway vienna-domb tunnel DÖMPER Kft. for. The prize is awarded to Ottó Kádár project director and Attila Kerékgyártó project leader.
• for the excellent quality of the production and construction work carried out during the renovation of the roof structure of the Nyugati railway station in Budapest Magyar Építő Zrt. for. The prize is awarded to László Oravecz Deputy Chief Technical Officer and András Dávid was awarded to the chief engineer of the facility.

Building Designers' Prize

With the award, the President of the Construction Section of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers intends to recognise the work of engineers who have led the realisation of successful and significant engineering projects. The awards were presented in 2023 by Ernő Wagner and László Péter Tóth, President of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers and President of the Construction Section of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers.

• was awarded the Building Designers' Prize in the category of Tall Buildings Marcell Futó chartered civil engineer, the Pedrano Construction Hungary Kft. Project Manager, Technical Manager in charge of the Budapest One Office Building.
• was awarded the Building Designers' Prize in the category of Civil Engineering Gergely Visy chartered architect, the Strabag Építőipari Zrt. Project Manager, Technical Manager in charge of Vajda Real Estate's new paper mill unit in Dunaföldvár.

Gyula Sándy Prize

The architect Gyula Sándy always strived for maximum precision and perfection of technical solutions. He represented the unity of the theoretical and practical work of architecture, and the prize is therefore also a recognition of the work of architects and engineers working in the field of construction, and of their exemplary approach to the work of construction. The award was presented this year by Dr. Péter Hajnóczi and Tihamér Szalay, President and Vice-President of the Hungarian Chamber of Architects

• Balázs Greskovic chartered architect, the Laky Épületszobrász Zrt. division manager, the project manager responsible for the Villa Róheim project.

Award for Excellence in Building Services

It is awarded by the Hungarian Building Technology Coordination Association and the Building Technology Association to engineers who have made outstanding achievements in building technology design.In 2023, the award was presented by Dr. István Barótfi, President of the Hungarian Building Technology Coordination Association and Balázs Uhrinyi, Secretary General of the Building Technology Association.

• Attila Lucz chartered building services engineer, the HVarC Kft. for the Chief Designer of Building Services for the Ethnographic Museum and Visitor Centre,
• Szilárd Szakál chartered building services engineer, the KÖZTI for the Chief Designer of Building Services Engineering for the building services engineering design of the Lőver swimming pool in Sopron.