Overview of a recent CIOB online seminar in conjunction with CIfA
This online seminar was titled Telling stories and shattering myths – construction and archaeology and was developed jointly between CIfA and the CIOB Belfast Hub.
It took place as a Teams Webinar on Thursday, 5 May 2022.
Examples and case studies from Northern Ireland were used but the key messages are relevant to construction managers, archaeologists and other across the UK and Ireland and beyond.
This seminar is a great example of our growing relationship with CIOB.
An edited version of the seminar is going to be made available to all CIOB members via their CIOB Academy Knowledge Hub so that the key messages get to the widest number of Chartered Construction Managers and Chartered Builders as possible.
The key messages of this seminar are:
- Archaeology can represent an opportunity for the construction industry
- Early engagement of archaeologists is crucial
- Construction and archaeology are often combined in a single project
- These projects can contribute toward sustainable development and placemaking
- And, project involving archaeology and construction can deliver significant social benefit
Seminar speakers were:
- Alina Holyst, Chartered Architect, Urban Planner & Conservation Registrant
- Andrew Gault, Senior Archaeologist, DfC Historic Environment Division
- John O’Keeffe, Chief Executive at the Discovery Programme
- Peter Hinton, Chief Executive at CIfA
Alina Holyst used her experience of working on the Newry Distillery project to underline how important early engagement is between archaeologists and design and construction teams. Andrew Gault and John O’Keeffe focused on where archaeology fits into the planning system in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland from planning and archaeology perspective. Peter Hinton used the CIRIA guide Archaeology and construction: good practice guidance to illustrate best practice in construction and archaeology collaboration.
Jonathan Payne, Managing Director at Mascott Construction, acted as chair. Thanks go to Jonathan, the speakers and to Julie Fitzsimmons from the CIOB Belfast Hub.
All those involved in this collaborative seminar look forward to working together again in a follow-up seminar later in the year.
