STEAM Building, Gonzaga College

MOLA Architecture won the design competition for the new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) facility at Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin. The project forms the first phase of a re-imagined campus masterplan and establishes a new primary entrance to the school, giving Gonzaga a clear point of arrival and setting the architectural language for future development across the campus.

The masterplan is grounded in retaining and respecting Gonzaga’s historical evolution, preserving four signature buildings and reinforcing their prominence through a central circulation spine known as the “social street”. Characterised by a unifying colonnade, this street organises both existing and new buildings and is initiated by the STEAM extension, creating a new student entrance into the heart of the campus. A generous three-storey entrance foyer forms a hub of movement and activity, with feature stairs connecting science galleries and a bridge link to Sandford House.

The entrance hall combines concrete, glulam and timber to create a robust yet porous, light-filled space. The project also includes the refurbishment and adaptive reuse of the existing science block, transforming it into new classroom accommodation and avoiding demolition as a sustainable design choice. A carved corner introduces a double-height space with tiered seating that draws students into the campus and connects to the new extension’s atria. A shared connecting atrium between old and new allows ground-floor classrooms to open onto an informal learning and gathering space, animated and overlooked by classrooms, science labs and open galleries above.

Flexible teaching spaces, informal learning areas and a maker space support contemporary educational approaches, while a refined façade of brick plinth and aluminium fins balances openness with a sensitive response to the campus setting.