Cork School of Architecture



2016-2018 | Cork City
The New Cork School of Architecture Building was completed and occupied by the Cork Centre for Architectural Education in 2018 in Cork City. The building is comprised of 33,700sft over three floors above a 7,440sqft Basement. It is located within the confines of Nano Nagle Place which received an RIAI award for Urban Design & Masterplanning in 2020.  The design team consisted of Jack Coughlan Architects,  Cahalan Lynch Associates (Quantity Surveyors), Horgan Lynch Consulting Engineers, Martin Buckley Associates (Mechanical and Electrical), and Bernard Seaymour Associates (Landscape Design). The project is funded by South Presentation Centre Ltd. and constructed by P.J. Hegarty and Sons Ltd. Building Contractors.
























The Building is situated between Abbey Street and Evergreen Street on the  western apex of the larger site of Nano Nagle Place. Located in the area south of the River Lee known as the South Parish, the site offered a position close to the city centre, transport links, and within walking distance of University College Cork and other smaller third level institutions.
























Within the complex of Nano Nagle Place, the new building opens to an internal courtyard which is shared with the recently refurbished South Presentation Convent buildings. A new landscape leads through the complex of buildings and forms a new datum that connects back through the concrete ground floor level of the new building. The building is set back from the street which affords for a new hard and planted landscape to the existing street. 






















The main entrance is distinguished by a cut in the north western corner of the building. A brick wall is followed into the building below the overhung first floor and beyond to an entrance foyer which opens to a three storey atrium void. The void opens to the two floors above and the clerestory glazing at a higher level. A canteen and two flexible lecture spaces occupy the ground floor. The canteen is backed by a curtain wall which exits to the internal shared courtyard. An open stair in the atrium void leads to open plan studio spaces on the upper two floors. The stepped nature of the site offers street access to the first floor on the south and views of roofs to the north. The elevation offers panoramic view of the city at second floor level.








































The open plan accommodation arranged around the atrium void aims to encourage an inter-generational experience and a crossing of knowledge across the building. The atrium is also located to maximise natural day-lighting and encourage the use of natural ventilation strategies. The use of daylight, natural ventilation, and a targeted envelope performance are aimed at achieving a performance specification for a public building.