Portlaoise Parish Amalgamation Schools
Portlaoise Parish Amalgamation Schools
Project Value
€13m
Floor Area
9,500m²
Status
Complete 2018
Location
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
This project involved the amalgamation of the 3no. Portlaoise Parish Schools from within the town to a new site in Aughnaharna, Portlaoise. The 3no. existing schools amalgamated to form 2no. new Primary schools, a Junior Primary School and a Senior Primary School.
The design strategy of this project was developed as a campus arrangement with 3no. Separate buildings. The benefits of the campus solution promote a clear identity for each school located off a main entry plaza, a place where pupils and parents can gather in the mornings creating a lively welcoming approach to the school. It also maximises the potential of solar gain within the site yet minimising the massing of the structures. There is also a clear separation between vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site with a one way drop off system surrounding an island containing the schools and community facility.
The design solution incorporates the key elements of the Government Policy on Architecture; efficient and sustainable high-quality architectural design in the built environment where the built form responds to both the physical site-specific requirements and the needs of the greater community.
The buildings are located to address the town with pedestrian and cycle links promoted at key points. The school buildings step on the site thereby addressing the existing site contours and creating external terraced areas, spaces between the building elements; individual microclimates which can each become a vehicle for learning and to foster creativity. The site is organised in order to encourage community use of the external facilities with independent access to the GP Hall, ball courts and playing fields possible. The buildings are designed to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the greater community.
