• Architect: Antonio Cominges
• Built: 1941
• Address: Plaza de América s/n

The construction of this building was made possible by a donation by José Policarpo Sanz to the City of Vigo on his death.

José Policarpo Sanz was a local philanthropist who was born in Marín and died in Paris in 1889. He made a great fortune when he emigrated to Cuba and the United States. In his will, after his death, his fortune was left to the City of Vigo but this involved a series of conditions. After his wife Irene de Ceballos’ death, a large part of the inheritance was to go towards building a stone building to be used as a school and to be called Saint Irene’s. A space was to be set aside in the school for exhibiting his art collection which he also donated to the city. The rest of the inheritance was to be used for setting up a charity hospital. Irene de Ceballos passed away in August 1935.

In March 1941, the local council led by mayor Luis Suárez Llanos ceded the site known as El Carmen to start construction of the school. The architect Antonio Cominges Tapias was appointed to design the building and the Pérez Conde firm would oversee the work.

Construction was finished in March 1946. Saint Irene’s School was officially opened on the 16th of September that year with a celebration in the main hall of the school.

The building is designed in the shape of an E in order for improved light and ventilation. The main façade is eclectic in style. Decorative features appear mainly on the central section. The most important of these is the dominant tower, which is a representative and symbolic structure. The first and second floors are made up of a series of double Ionic columns arranged vertically. A wide portico can be seen at the main entrance above which there is a decorative balcony with a neo-Baroque style balustrade. There are pilasters on the sides that flank a series of windows. The stonemasonry is also interesting. White granite quarried nearby at Ulló (Arcade) or another of a similar quality was used.