Grace Park ETNS, Drumcondra
This project consists of the design of a 3-storey, 16-classroom primary school. The facilities of the school will include a state-of-the-art general-purpose hall, support teaching spaces and ancillary accommodation. The exterior design of the school is extremely modern and innovative incorporating tall vertical Larch timber louvres along the outside of the infrastructure to introduce both shading to south facing classroom windows and a unique style. The school will have a total floor area of 3760spm.
The school will be located within the curtilage of DCU All Hallows Campus and will follow a contemporary design solution which fits sensitively into the surroundings. Sustainability is a key element of the project which will see the school full of light and be naturally ventilated. We wanted to create something innovative by fusing glass, wood, limestone cladding and brick into the build and reinvigorating the style of the school building by doing something new but highly functional.
The key challenge in designing facilities of this type are providing a cost-effective and an inviting facility that delivers high on architecture and sustainability. A lot of work was put into executing a modern style building both inside and out. The school is efficiently planned, child friendly and contained within an economical building structure. It will sit appropriately within the historically sensitive setting of Senior House (built 1853-1859). This project is due to complete in March 2020.
Design Team:
Architect – Oppermann Associates Limited
Main Contractor: ABM Design and Build
Services Engineer: Varming Consulting Engineers
Civil / Structural Engineer: Hayes Higgins Partnership
