THE University of Limerick Medical School is among three Irish entries shortlisted for the 2013 Stirling Prize, a prestigious award presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for new buildings.
The Institute describes the building, designed by Grafton Architects, as an “exceptional example of how to create a vibrant new public space through the careful design and placement of buildings”.
“It is not easy to create good architecture on an incredibly tight budget and previous architectural experiments on the Limerick Campus have produced mixed results.
“However, Grafton Architects have taken an ordinary programme for the student housing and made two muscular buildings that despite their modest size, convey a sense of scale and weight in creating a point of entry to the campus”.
RIBA also stated that the building “punches well above its weight” and “transforms simple teaching and study spaces into rich, theatrical spaces, with a generosity that verges on the heroic”.
The other shortlisted Irish entries are the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre by Dublin firm Heneghan Peng and the Bishop Edward King Chapel in Oxfordshire, England designed by Dublin-born Niall McLaughlin Architects in London.
The £20,000 Stirling Prize has been awarded annually for the last 18 years to honour high-quality design in buildings erected throughout the European Union.
