A community college in Co. Kerry has scooped the overall award for the Construction Industry Federation’s Design a Home for Everyone competition.
Castleisland Community College in Castleisland has been selected over the other finalists at the first CIF’s Design a Home for Everyone awards ceremony.
The school’s No Man is an Island entry edged out both Coláiste Iognáid S.J, a bilingual secondary school in Galway for its TOTA VITA entry, and St. Joseph’s College in Lucan, Co. Dublin, for its The Eco-tainer Home entry.
The competition in its inaugural year, aimed at Transition Year students, is a team-based project where students nationwide work together to design a home that helps ‘solve’ climate change, the housing crisis, and addresses inclusivity.
The submitted designs needed to be eco-friendly, affordable, and suitable for both elderly people and those with physical disabilities. Castleisland Community College will have their design rendered into a three-dimensional model, so they can ‘walk’ through the house with a range of ambassadors, politicians, celebrities, parents, and local councillors in late 2021.
In addition, the community college will receive high-end measuring equipment, a laser level and a masterclass in the use of the equipment as well as wi-fi equipment.
The winning team members will have the option of taking a CIF scholarship or access to our apprenticeship programme if they do decide to take a construction-related career route in their future.
This programme was developed by Class Of Your Own led by CEO Alison Watson MBE in collaboration with TUI, the Techno Teachers Association Ireland, the Engineering Technology Teachers Association and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.
This programme is designed to compliment current teaching and career guidance principles.
“We want to commend all the schools that entered. We are delighted for Castleisland Community College who are the first recipient of this award,” said Frank Kelly, President of the CIF.
“The standard across all the entries was exceptional and the judging process was very challenging. The mix of innovation, sustainability and the vision was inspirational.
“We look forward to creating the virtual model and share this with the public.”
