10 June 2008

Go Ahead Given for Major Engineering School in Ireland

Galway City Council has given the go ahead for the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway’s new ¤60 million (£40.2 million) engineering school – the University’s largest capital development project to date. The building, designed by leading international architectural firm RMJM in partnership with local firm Taylor architects, will unite the University’s five engineering departments, which are currently located at 13 different sites across the campus and beyond. The new development will house undergraduate and postgraduate facilities for over 1,100 students and will include state-of-the-art engineering laboratories, research facilities, workshops, computer suites and lecture rooms.


National University of Ireland Galway - interior image from RMJM

The 14,200m2 new Engineering Building has been conceived as a pavilion in a park, referencing the University’s original 1845 quadrangle building. The zinc-clad development will respect is riverside setting and a number of measures have been taken to minimise the building’s carbon footprint. These include natural ventilation to much of the accommodation, a bio-diverse green roof over the central courtyard, the harvesting of rainwater for use within the building and a biomass boiler for energy generation.

It is expected that 40% of the School of Engineering will be funded by central government with additional significant funds contributed by private donors and the balance covered from the University’s own resources. The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2010.


National University of Ireland Galway - exterior image from RMJM

RMJM Director in charge of the project, Adrian Boot commented:

“We are delighted to be designing and delivering a state-of-the-art facility for Ireland’s engineers of the future. The wonderful waterfront site on the Campus has been inspiring and we have created a stimulating learning and research environment which will add value to the School of Engineering's vision for the future. The RMJM team has spent a lot of time in Galway over the past years developing the design in detail – particularly the functionally diverse activities within the laboratories."

RMJM teamed up with Taylor Architects – a 30-strong, leading firm of architects and interior designers based in County Mayo - to win the commission in March 2005. The development was given the go-ahead in 2006, following an announcement by the Irish Government of a ¤1 billion investment programme for third-level institutions and is part of the NUI’s Campus of the Future programme.

It is RMJM’s second commission for the University in recent years. In 2004, RMJM and Taylor Architects were appointed to design a new ¤5 million cultural hub for the NUI, Galway, featuring a series of informal social and specialist arts spaces allowing greater flexibility and experimentation between a broad range of film, music, drama and other creative arts activities.



Previously:


National University of Ireland: Galway's new engineering school
RMJM Architects' Building PR

RMJM Designing Major Engineering School in Ireland

Leading British architectural practice RMJM is designing the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway’s new €60 million (£40.2 million) engineering school. The development, submitted for planning permission in June, will start on site in February 2008.

The Governing Authority of NUI Galway authorised the visionary capital development programme at the campus in May 2006, of which the Engineering Building is the University’s largest capital project to date.

The 14,200m2 new Engineering Building has been conceived as a pavilion in a park, referencing the University’s original 1845 quadrangle building. The zinc clad building in this new parkland will form the gateway to the emerging northern campus.

The building unites the University’s five engineering departments – Civil, Electronic, Industrial, Engineering Hydrology and Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering – which are currently located at 13 different locations over the campus and beyond. The new development will house undergraduate and postgraduate facilities for nearly 1,500 students including engineering laboratories, research facilities, workshops, computer suites and lecture rooms.

Planning and Projects Officer at the University, Greg Power commented:

“Locations for great works of public architecture are few and far between, and those in a position to commission such work have an enormous responsibility to make something truly significant. The University relishes the opportunity to work with architects of such stature as RMJM and Taylor Architects to create a fitting salute to the inspiring history of engineering in Galway.

“The new facility will be a landmark building, respectful of its unique riverside setting on the main approach into Galway and one which will continue to inspire students in engineering for generations to come.”

RMJM teamed up with Taylor Architects – a 30-strong, leading firm of architects and interior designers based in County Mayo - to win the commission in March 2005. The development was given the go-ahead in 2006, following an announcement by the Irish Government of a ¤1 billion investment programme for third-level institutions and is part of the NUI’s Campus of the Future programme. It is RMJM’s second commission for the University in recent years. In 2004, RMJM and Taylor Architects were appointed to design a new ¤5 million cultural hub for the NUI, Galway, featuring a series of informal social and specialist arts spaces allowing greater flexibility and experimentation between a broad range of film, music, drama and other creative arts activities.

RMJM Director in charge of the project, Adrian Boot said:

“We are delighted to be designing and delivering a state-of-the-art facility for the engineers of the future. We are particularly pleased to be working with the University on this prestigious project on a wonderful waterfront site on the Campus. We believe that the opportunities to create a stimulating learning and research environment which adds value to the School of Engineering's vision for the future are significant.

Our team has spent a lot of time in Galway over the past year developing the design in detail – particularly the functionally diverse activities within the laboratories. This hard work by everyone involved is now paying off."

It is expected that 40% of the School of Engineering will be funded by central government with additional significant funds contributed by private donors and the balance covered from the University’s own resources. The project was set in motion as soon as the funding announcement was made, and is scheduled for completion in 2010.



National University of Ireland : original page with initial images

Architects : RMJM

RMJM is a UK-based international architectural practice with a design-led approach that is successfully demonstrated in on-going projects in more than 15 countries. RMJM employs over 1000 people across its network of offices in the UK, Middle East, Asia and the US.

RMJM’s expertise spans a wide range of key sectors, from corporate headquarters and waterfront residential developments to major public buildings, university campuses and large-scale regeneration programmes.

National University of Ireland architects : RMJM

Client: National University of Ireland, Galway

Founded in 1845 (as Queen's College Galway) with an initial intake, in 1849, of 63 students, the National University of Ireland, Galway is now a thriving institution with over 15,000 students (including students from over 40 countries), taking courses in seven faculties, namely Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Celtic Studies, Medicine & Health Sciences, and Law.

National University of Ireland Galway - Project team

Architects RMJM and Taylor Architects
Landscape Architects Brady Shipman Martin
Project managers Gardiner and Theobald Management Services
Quantity Surveyor Davis Langdon PKS
Building Services engineer PM+Capita Symmonds
Civil/ Structural Engineer Arup
Planning Consultants AP McCarthy

The computer generated images enclosed represent current design lodged for planning approval.

National University of Ireland Galway: Engineering School - RMJM PR 260707

Other RMJM Architects' Projects:
Palm Island Dubai
Scottish Parliament



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Comments or building suggestions / photos for the National University of Ireland Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk

National University of Ireland Galway - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website: www.nuigalway.ie