This building honours the founder of the Mercy Order, Catherine McAuley, a woman who understood the impact of education in improving the lives of women; a hospitable woman who nourished others. Shrouded in a filigree veil resembling Irish lace, and a nod to the Mercy Sisters who travelled to North Qld from Ireland, it was perforated with shamrocks, the Mercy Rose and Mercy Cross. It was lovely to see aspects of the old Chapel that was demolished to make way for the building incorporated into the new design, from stained glass windows, to wooden panelling. Apart from a deeply creative approach, the architects have made highly functional, sustainable spaces where young people learn and where communities flourish.

In a highly contemporary expression, the architects skilfully reinterpret the place’s memories. The past seems present, projected onto the new façade. Highly contextual and delicate screen patterns, inspired by the Irish lace of the Sisters of Mercy, de-materialize otherwise considerable building volume and provide shade protection to the interiors.