Autism Spectrum Disorder Facility, Enniscorthy

Building Owner
Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board
Architect
O’Leary Sludds Architects
autism spectrum disorder facility enniscorthy

Project Background

This Autism Spectrum Disorder Facility was one of the first educational projects to commence under the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (BCAR) which set-out the minimum acoustic requirements in educational buildings. Given this was an ASD Facility, the aesthetics of the Facility were also of utmost importance.

The Challenge

Special Education Tuition Rooms are required to adhere to the Building Bulletin93 (BB93) Acoustic Design of Schools, a design guide for Northern Ireland and the Department of Education’s Technical Guidance Document for ROI TGD-021-5: Acoustic Performance in New Primary and Post-Primary School Buildings. However, there is also an aesthetic consideration to ensure that the room provides the correct sensory requirement for its pupils.

The Approach

This ASD Facility has four classrooms that are oriented around a central activity area at the centre of the building. A single storey circulation corridor wraps around the central activity space allowing access to the classrooms without interfering with the use of the central space. 

Rigitone 8-15-20 SUPER, a perforated acoustic plasterboard was installed with a Gypframe CasoLine MF Metal Framing Ceiling in conjunction with ISOVER acoustic insulation to provide optimum levels of sound absorption which reduces reverberation times in line with the building regulation requirements. This helps contribute to a comfortable acoustic environment and facilitates speech clarity. The irregular perforation pattern of Rigitone 8-15-20 SUPER in this case, is ideal for use in the Special Education Tuition Rooms that were required here.