Scoil Naomh Micheal
Inclusive, Welcoming and Connected: New Special Educational Needs (SEN) Space
The Challenge
The project at Scoil Naomh Micheál was driven by urgent and critical needs. The school was operating on a constrained and restricted site, making any new development complex. The existing building was dated, in very poor condition, and crucially, lacked any suitable spaces for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
Compounding these issues were the dangerous traffic arrangements outside the school. Children were being dropped off directly onto a busy national road, with no dedicated car parking, posing a significant daily risk to pupils, staff, and parents. The challenge was to resolve these safety and facility issues within a live school environment, creating a safe, inclusive, and modern educational space.
Our Process
Our approach was rooted in Joyful Efficiency, in close collaboration with the school's leadership and stakeholders. The primary goal was to design a 460sqm extension dedicated to SEN as a fully integrated part of the school.
Through our meticulous process, we designed a bright, welcoming addition that promotes inclusivity and accessibility. The new SEN base is centrally located, sharing social spaces with the mainstream school to foster a sense of unity. We ensured all students could arrive together and enter through the same main door - a simple but powerful design choice for promoting dignity and inclusion. Careful logistical planning was essential to manage construction on the live campus, ensuring pupil safety and minimal disruption to the school's operation.
Outcome & Impact
The result is a transformative project that has had a profound Sustainable Impact on the school community. We have delivered state-of-the-art SEN learning and activity spaces, complete with an outdoor sensory garden, that provide a nurturing and effective educational environment.
The new design has resolved the hazardous traffic situation, creating a safe set-down area and entrance. The extension has modernized the entire school, creating an integrated, connected, and inclusive campus where every student feels valued. This project showcases how thoughtful architecture can solve practical problems while enriching the lives and educational experiences of children.
