Two institutes of technology, the University of Limerick, and a multi-denominational primary school in Dublin have been commended by the OECD as "exemplary educational facilities".
An OECD report, Designs for Learning, examined school and college buildings in 21 states on the basis of the "contribution high-quality buildings can make to the educational process".
The Limerick Institute of Technology was selected because it demonstrated "how education can be improved by the buildings in which it is carried out". The "visible and enthusiastic" placing of art throughout the college's buildings was "used to enhance and humanise the student's perception of the environment", said the report.
Letterkenny's Institute of Technology, Co Donegal, was also praised. A long concourse which links new blocks with existing facilities allowed "social interaction" and room for student services, it said.
The University of Limerick's library and information services building was also cited by the OECD. Opened in 1998, the report said the building "seeks to integrate a traditional library with the needs of a modern learning and teaching facility".
The architects, Murray O'Laoire, had designed a building that "reflects the way the university members actually use library and information technology services".
The multi-denominational school in Ranelagh, Co Dublin, which has 250 pupils, was praised for building new facilities which retained "Dublin's original Georgian urban design". The architects were O'Donnell and Tuomey.
"The architects have made conscious efforts to be sensitive to the environment, ensuring that the scale and character of the school is in keeping with the urban setting".