Carrickphierish Campus, Waterford, is one of an exciting new group of school projects in Ireland which combines a public library, community facilities, shared community hall and two primary schools all on one site. Completed in July 2015, the project is jointly sponsored by the Department of Education and Skills and Waterford City Council. The five acre site is in a greenfield area of new town development which includes mixed use, employment and community services as part of the strategic vision. The masterplan required the schools and the library to contribute to the urban form of the new urban centre, the buildings providing a street edge with all play areas located to the rear. The choice of materials for the library includes natural stone and zinc cladding, appropriate for its prominent corner site location.
The schools were carefully planned to ensure classrooms were located away from traffic noise and all face east or south, to take advantage of the sun. Individual set down and parking areas are provided and a comprehensive landscape scheme includes hard and soft play areas, surrounded by woodland planting and semi-mature trees, a vegetable patch, orchard, garden and separate secure outdoor areas for each of the special needs units.