Benincasa Special School, based in South Dublin, enrols children aged between 5 and 16 that have been referred to the school due to the child’s special needs and inability to thrive in mainstream education.
In 2013, Kelly and Cogan Architects were invited to submit their proposals for the relocation of the school to a nearby Froebel Institute Building at Sion Hill and to identify a methodology for adapting that older building to Benincasa’s needs.
Our design response attempts to intelligently and economically address the very particular requirements for Benincasa within the quite different accommodation provided by the existing Froebel building.
Through that process of investigation of the Sion Hill premises and interrogation of the Benincasa brief, it became apparent that significant works would be required in order to comply with the Department of Education’s current requirements for a special needs school.
Working within these conditions, our design concept separates the structural and non- structural elements of the existing building, minimizing interventions where possible, and gaining maximum benefit from the existing building fabric.
The design has been carefully considered to maximize pupil and staff security and to enable close oversight and rapid response in emergency situations with minimal disruption.
The scheme is framed around two secure and enclosed private courtyard gardens, one of which is internal, and one towards the entrance.
Exploiting the existing circulation, a new entrance from the new front courtyard and a new stair / lift tower are introduced to create a nodal point around which circulation for staff, younger, and older student’s functions clearly. External circulation is formalized and clarified through landscaping and the creation of a single main entrance route.
Internally, the proposal provides for the necessary Department of Education requirements including spaces for a psychologist educational room, speech labs and sluices, while safe classroom spaces have also been incorporated.
A new central activity room doubles as congregation space around which the school can operate. Exposed services in the building are to be covered over and hanging light fixtures replaced with flush, fixed alternatives.
Windows in the school would be replaced with laminated and toughened security glass, while the careful repositioning and screening of some windows will be a priority to eliminate overlooking and create pleasant daylight conditions.
Finally, the school has been designed to allow for separation of younger and older pupils between ground and first floor and to allow flexibility for changes in age profile of pupils in the future. Acoustics and resilient surfaces are a particular priority to ‘deaden’ sound transmission and provide for a calmer and more tranquil environment.
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Location |
Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin |
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Date Of Construction |
2013 |
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Client |
Benincasa Special Needs School |
Location: Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Co.Dublin
Date Of Construction: 2013
Client: Beninca Special Needs School
