Students lay the groundwork for architecture career

The future of home and building design will be on display next week as young scientists compete for a new innovation award. The prize is part of Government-backed efforts to encourage engagement in architecture among young people.

It will be presented to a project that comes under the theme of sustainable design and innovation in the built environment from among the entrants at the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. The new award is a joint initiative of the Irish Architecture Foundation and Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The foundation is a not-for-profit organisation whose activities include a national “architects in schools” initiative working with transition-year students in subjects such as technology, science, art, and design and communication graphics. Architecture specialists visit schools to give young people first-hand experience of how buildings are designed — a process in which sustainable design and innovation play a growing role.