Royal College of Surgeons
Education
Information
The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland (RCSI) has been a leading educational facility for medical professionals for over 200 years.
Completed in 2017 by the Henry J Lyons architectural practice, the RCSI building has been reimaged as a 21st century modern healthcare campus providing education for both graduate and undergraduate students from over 60 international countries.
The project was undertaken to extend the existing compact site while staying within the boundaries and constraints of the historical urban area. It also aims to create a model educational facility to support how students learn today.
“Today's students are not accustomed to studying in isolation or in only formal settings,” explained Anne-Marie Saul-Rotne, PM & Architect at Henry J Lyons Architects.
“Modern students hold group study sessions in cafes, exchange notes in the mall, memorize text books from their iPads and block out any background noise with their headphones. The building had to respond to this by offering a level of choice. Users required spaces for students to study both formally and casually, to interact individually and in groups, and to socialize and be able to work and learn in silence.”
To accommodate such diverse demands of the space, the architects selected Arper furniture for both their aesthetic and functional contributions. Catifa chairs are found on the main corridors to lend a sense of calm to open spaces. Colina chairs are found in the library’s vertical piazzas where interaction is encouraged through comfortable seating. In areas where quiet and focus is needed, high backed armchairs allow students to have space for private study.
“The furniture for every training space was meticulously considered and selected to suit its function and enhance and support the students' learning experience,” continues the architect.“The resultant spatial variety supports the diverse demands of healthcare education while encouraging social interaction."
Photos ©Donal Murphy
