O'Donnell + Tuomey's Sandford Park School was named the winner of the Wood Awards Ireland 2020, Large Scale Public Buildings category. The WAI winners were formally announced at a webinar on 26th March 2021.

WAI 2020 received entries from registered architects, engineers, designers, furniture makers, wood workers, restorers and third level colleges carrying out postdoctoral research into wood and wood products. Successful entrants feature wood as an inherent medium in their projects.

We seek innovation in design and excellence in execution. WAI like wood itself, is not singular or one dimensional. There are many facets to this inherently sustainable material from solid sections of hardwood and softwood to engineered wood.

The awarded schemes explore the intrinsic physical properties of wood while also developing the inherent relationship between form, technology and the brief requirements of the client.

Ciaran O'Connor, State Architect, President RIAI and chairperson of the adjudicating panel

About the project:

The new school known as the Le Peton building comprises ten classrooms, three meeting rooms, internal and external social spaces and ancillary accommodation. This is a two-storey brick and timber building, with hardwood timber windows and exposed timber trusses and roof joists internally. At the heart of the building is a large social space with forum seating which links the two floors and the external space with views to the playing fields beyond. The character of the social space is defined by the carefully selected materials mainly timber with a concrete structure at first floor. The forum seating is iroko hardwood, with walls lined in birch faced plywood. Large hardwood timber windows above the lockers flood the space with natural light along with higher level windows on the opposite side facing a more south/east direction.

Category:
• Awards