STEAM Building, Loreto College

In 2022, MOLA Architecture won a ‘Think Big’ competition at Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, with work commencing in 2023. The competition reimagined the existing school campus as a cohesive, future-focused environment that supports learning, community, and wellbeing, while responding sensitively to its historic urban setting.

Central to the project is the delivery of a new STEAM building and the creation of a cohesive campus that is legible, connected, and intuitive for students, staff, and visitors. The STEAM building, to be delivered as Phase 4 of the overall redevelopment, represents the largest and most significant element of the project.

The new building will accommodate laboratories, flexible teaching spaces, a dining hall, and a library, providing state-of-the-art facilities within a collaborative and adaptable environment designed to support innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and experimentation. Located at the south-east corner of the site, the building will enclose the campus edge and overlook a proposed multi-purpose outdoor pitch. Accessible rooftop areas will provide additional outdoor space for students, including opportunities for horticulture and outdoor learning.

The wider campus strategy includes the relocation of the existing car park to the site perimeter, enabling the transformation of the campus core into a landscaped, pedestrianised environment. This approach prioritises safety, accessibility, and wellbeing, creating high-quality outdoor spaces for movement, gathering, and informal learning.