1897 – Former St. Andrew’s National Schools, Pearse Street, Dublin

Now a community resource centre, this Victorian building was constructed as boys and girls national schools in 1895-97. The five part composition has a central breakfront with decorative terracotta trim and a central cupola. The two wings with their curvilinear gables are joined to the central block by a three bay block with red brick dressing to offset the yellow brick.

“It is proposed to erect new schools for the children of the R. C. parishioners of St. Andrew’s . The site selected for the purpose is in Great Brunswick- street, on what was formerly the saw-mills and marble works of Messrs. Sibthorpe and Son, where for many years the firm carried on a trade which, if sufficiently patronised, should still exist as a thriving native industry. The site is completely isolated on all sides . There is therefore thorough ventilation for the schools, and ample playgrounds are also provided. The buildings comprise a central block, with wings at the ends, and a middle front projection, the whole being two storeys in height . There are excellent school and class rooms, with the usual adjuncts, to accommodate 1,200 children . The school rooms are four in number, averaging 75 by 31 ft . each, and the class rooms are 25 ft. by 18 ft . with porches , cloak rooms, and ample staircases at each end . The school-rooms will be lighted with windows of large size, well ventilating the space, and the class- rooms are similarly well lighted. The rooms are also lofty in height, special ventilating arrangements being adopted to ensure an equable temperature and a perfectly pure atmosphere in the rooms at all times by the admission of fresh and the emission of impure air. The buildings will be of a simple but substantial character, and will be a pleasing and handsome addition to this thoroughfare. The contract sum is £5,200. Messrs . Michael Meade and Son, Great Brunswick- street, are the contractors, and that fact is a guarantee that the work will be carried out well and promptly. The designs are by Mr. William Hague, F.R.I.A.I. , architect, Dawson-street, and the work will be carried out under his superintendence.”
The Irish Builder, May 15, 1895