Project: UCC “The Calm Zone”

Flexible Innovation

The Calm Zone has been designed using universal design and autism-friendly principles, and is currently being featured as an example of autism-friendly design in the prestigious 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale.  UCC’s Old Bar was a space that held many fond memories for former students, and the bar closed in 2018, after 30 years at the heart of the student community. Now the Calm Zone will sit at the heart of a UCC initiative to promote inclusion and to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population.

The Calm Zone is laid out across two levels, and every facet of the space – including acoustics and accessibility – has been considered to maximise autism-friendliness and designed to global design guidelines for built environments to be used by individuals with autism. An open plan area includes flexible seating; sensory and respite rooms are included, as are universal access toilets and lift. The space will also be used to facilitate workshops that promote student wellbeing.

We supplied all of the loose furniture & acoustic solutions for this project