AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER FACILITY, BRIGID’S NS, CARLOW

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) facility for St. Brigid’s National School

As with all ASD facilities integration and reverse integration is very important. The brief for the facility included a daily activity area and the key to the design was using this area as the connection piece between the existing school and new extension. The central activity area can double as the school’s general purpose room and, therefore encourages reverse integration.

As important as integration is the student’s ability to take time out and this is facilitated through the safe rooms of the classrooms, the multi-sensory room and the fully enclosed external play area.

The ASD facility was a single storey extension of approx. 500 sq.m. in gross floor area. The building method was traditional cavity blockwork construction with in fill insulation. The internal walls of the facility were plastered, the radiators recessed and the light fittings/ electrical sockets appropriate for the end user’s needs.