School building is runner-up in conservation awards

St Patrick’s National School, Trim, was awarded second place in the annual Meath An Taisce Ellison Awards at a ceremony last Friday, 29th October. The award was presented to Dean Robert Jones for the work carried out on the old mews building beside the parochial hall that was renovated and now accommodates St Patrick’s National School. The building was derelict and unroofed when it was decided to move the school from its then location on High Street to allow for a school that would not be compromised by its restricted site. An Taisce said that the decision to integrate this older building with the new school was “opportune and positive”. It added: “The incorporation of renewal as well as replacement in the brief defined a special identity for the school. It epitomised how old can be fused to make something new, whilst retaining an eloquent memory of the past. The old building was an opportunity to gather the resource elements of the brief and provide special spaces for the school, along with the benefit of proximity to the parish hall for physical education.” The interior of the old building is simply divided into three zones horizontally, as was the old building, using a double height at the entrance to make a welcoming, airy space. The building connects through to the pair of classrooms, each one enjoying a flood of colourful light and generously provided with computers and electronic interactive whiteboards. An Taisce has commended the parish and its design team for an exemplary mixing of old and new building, to create an environment with great character with a sense of history, and a sustainable approach to renewal. Dean Jones said they began the project in June 2006 and the children moved into their new school in Easter 2007. He said they were delighted to be nominated for the award and the excitement continued when they realised they had been shortlisted and might win a prize. Dean Jones said there is a lot of history in the building and part of it was the original deanery and was used for horses and coaches in centuries gone by. “There was a lot of history and it was a listed building that we wanted to restore. The school gave us the golden opportunity to do that,” he said. Dean Jones said they got great advice from Meath County Council’s conservation officer Jill Chadwick and also from their architect, Frank Cooney of Cooney Architects. The contractors on the project were Ganson from Balbriggan. There are now 42 pupils attending St Patrick’s National School and the principal is Trevor Larke.