The Source Arts Centre and Library wins Architectural Association of Ireland award and Irish Architecture award

The Source Arts Centre and Library in Ireland has won two architectural awards.

The library and arts centre in Thurles, County Tipperary, has won an Architectural Association of Ireland Award and the award for Best Public and Cultural Building at the Irish Architecture Awards.

Designed by McCullough Mulvin Architects, the €10m scheme is a riverside complex, which integrates an exhibition space, a 250-seat auditorium and stage, and a library and media zone.

A folding roof envelopes the building, zinc-clad planes define the different functions, and sheer panes of glass created from Technal’s aluminium visible grid curtain walling, face the river. The high level of glazing allows natural light to flood into the centre.

The glazing was fabricated and installed by Kilkenny Aluminium and finished in a black polyester powder coating. Technal’s high performance FXi65 casement windows in a top hung open-out configuration were inserted into the curtain walling to allow the temperature of the building to be controlled by the occupants. The units were glazed in Pilkington clear solar control glass.