Ireland’s future architects come together to transform how we build-

–  University of Limerick host symposium as part of world-leading project –

Over 160 students from eight schools of architecture across the island of Ireland congregated at the School of Architecture at University of Limerick (SAUL) on 4th April 204 to present sustainable architecture design studio pilot projects as part of the second ‘Building Change’ Student Symposium.

Housing, community engagement, carbon neutral construction, embodied energy, the circular economy and design for disassembly were among the themes of resilient design pilot projects which were presented by Technological University Dublin, University College Dublin, the University of Limerick, South East Technological University, Atlantic Technological University, and the Cork Centre for Architecture Education (CCAE), a joint initiative of University College Cork and Munster Technological University.

Speaking ahead of the event, Head of Architecture at SAUL, Peter Carroll said: “Today’s event is unique in architecture education and perhaps across all higher education across the island. We’re bringing together students from every school of architecture on both sides of the border to share their learnings from hands-on pilot projects, and to inform our transformation of the curricula.

“We’re asking students today, what areas they want to see prioritised in the curricula change and how they can mobilise to create an all-island student society or climate-led action group which will carry their skills and knowledge from our studios into practical application in their future careers.”

Also speaking ahead of the event, Emma Geoghegan, Head of Architecture at TU Dublin, said: “This is the second Student Symposium event as part of the Building Change project and it’s fantastic to see how engaged students are in this process to radically transform the curricula. Many of them have been inspired to pursue a career in architecture and design because it is such a crucial area in terms of climate action and sustainability, which we know is a huge motivator for younger generations.”