We had two events to celebrate the achievements of students who participated in the National Architects in Schools Initiative. Local architects and architecture graduates worked with transition year student groups throughout the year on a huge variety of architecture projects – from bus shelters and plans for vacant spaces to exhibition pavilions and new school designs.

Irish Architecture Foundation in partnership with the Regional Cultural Centre held an event to celebrate the achievements of Donegal students participating in the National Architects in Schools Initiative on 17 April. Dublin area schools gathered on 1 May to celebrate their achievements at the new Conference Hall and Expo Centre at St Patrick’s College DCU, Drumcondra. Students gave illustrated talks in the Conference Hall, followed by a display of project work in the Expo Centre. (The Conference Hall and Expo Centre are located on the ground floor of the new library at St Patrick’s College.)

“Working with a professional architect was a brilliant experience and we learned a lot of interesting new things.” Student, Grace Lavelle, Crana College

”We shape our buildings, therefore they shape us.” Student, Magh Ene College, Bundoran

“The response to the National Architects in Schools Initiative has been phenomenal. Students and architects have worked together on some highly innovative design projects, proving that creativity abounds in our schools.” Rachel McAree, Education Curator, Irish Architecture Foundation.

Check out the project blogs for updates.

Participating Dublin schools and architects:

Larkin Community College with Aideen English

Belvedere College, D1 with Jacinta Curley

St. Mary’s SS Glasnevin with Evelyn D’Arcy

Castleknock Community College with Shane Cotter

Donabate Community College with Eilish Byrne

Coláiste Pobail Setanta with Aideen Lowery

Oatlands College with Blaithin Quinn

Participating Donegal schools and architects:

Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn with Claire Burke

Coláiste Na Carraige, An Charraig with Anna Meehan

Crana College, Buncrana, with Breege Galbraith

Deele College with Siobhan McCafferty

Loreto Community College, Milford with John Curran

Magh Ene College, Bundoran with Patrick Dunne

The National Architects in Schools Initiative is devised and delivered by the Irish Architecture Foundation and is funded by the Arts Council, Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Government Policy on Architecture implementation programme.

Donegal, Cork, Dublin, Galway and Wexford are regional hubs for the initiative in 2013-2015. The Irish Architecture Foundation is working in partnership with the national network of Teachers’ Education Centres.

Contact Rachel McAree with your queries: education@architecturefoundation.ie  01 425 4082

The IAF have also launched a new school resource called My Architecture Design Journal, which engages young people in architecture through design projects based on their school, recorded in a bespoke student “Design Journal”. Suitable for teacher-led or architect-led projects, My Architecture Design Journal is supported by a teacher’s handbook and online resources, including a blog where participants of the National Architects in Schools Initiative post updates on their projects. For more information see: www.mydesignjournal.ie.

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