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The newest educational space at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), the Architecture Factory, is a third level educational and learning space situated in a formerly disused split-level warehouse.
The Architecture Factory houses the Department of Architecture and exam halls, and is an exemplar of cost-effective industrial building adaptation and repurposing. Populated with brightly coloured recycled shipping containers that have been around the world three times, and open-plan studios accommodating 240 students and 15 lecturers, the space is energetic and inspiring.
For this major building upgrade, Arup provided unusual mechanical and electrical solutions, coupled with refreshing interior design to deliver a welcoming environment for the students.
Project Summary
6 shipping containers act as lecturers’ offices
240students can be accommodated in the open-plan warehouse
1,500m²of design studio space
Flexible design to suit a changing learning environment
Designed to encourage peer-learning in a studio environment, the space had to be highly adaptable to the changing learning needs. Coordinated lighting and high level radiant heating kept the large expanse of floor area free from intrusion, providing flexibility for CIT to arrange the exam hall and architectural student design studios as per their requirements.
Appropriate levels of lighting, ventilation and heating maintain internal conditions in an energy efficient way. Arup modelled the thermal comfort and daylight analysis for the space, ensuring maximum energy savings for the building.
The Architecture Factory, which repurposed the former TYCO factory beside CIT’s Bishopstown campus, has been recognised as one of the most exciting new education spaces in Ireland. The project was awarded an A´Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category 2013-2014. A´Design Award is the world’s largest design competition awarding best designs, design concepts, products and services.
