St Marys Academy CBS, Carlow

Project Stage: Stage 2B

St Mary’s Academy CBS has been developed under the Department of Education ADAPT 2 Programme; our approach is guided by clarity, contextual response and long-term adaptability. The new three-storey building is conceived as a compact, legible form that consolidates accommodation on a constrained urban site while creating strong external edges and defined courtyard and play spaces. The massing responds to the surrounding residential context through controlled height, articulated façades and carefully selected materials, balancing civic presence with neighbourly scale. A clear internal planning diagram places general teaching, specialist rooms and SEN facilities along intuitive circulation spines, maximising passive supervision and wayfinding. Natural light and ventilation inform classroom orientation and façade design, supporting wellbeing and energy efficiency.

Universal Design principles are embedded throughout, including integrated Changing Places provision and step-free access across the campus. The landscape strategy restructures arrival, parking and set-down arrangements to prioritise pedestrian safety. Sustainable drainage, rooftop plant coordination, bat mitigation and high-performance fabric collectively ensure a robust, compliant and future-ready learning environment.