Trinity’s first Estates Strategy positions the campus for the future

Posted on: 21 November 2018

Student learning, teaching and research are at the heart of Trinity College Dublin’s first Estates Strategy launched today. College Bursar, Veronica Campbell presented the University’s Estates Strategy with its €230 million capital programme to the gathered College community of students and staff at a special event organised for the College community.

Emphasising the Estates Strategy’s key objectives, Professor Campbell said:“Trinity has one of the most significant campuses worldwide. As a university campus it first and foremost serves the needs of the College community. It provides an environment that supports student learning, enables research and creates an ambience in which the Trinity community connects and flourishes. We aim to provide facilities that support our students and staff for all their needs and ensure there is a plan to sustain growth over the long-term.”

The Estates Strategy includes flagship projects such as the new Trinity Business School which will open in March, 2019. The Printing House Square development which is due to open also in 2019, providing on campus student accommodation for up to 250 students along with a range of student services.

It also includes the E3-Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative at Trinity. Central to the vision of E3 is the construction of the Learning Foundry, a state of the art 6,086 square metre facility based on the main Trinity campus which will deliver new teaching facilities and an innovative interactive learning space for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Other capital developments will include the expansion of student accommodation at Trinity Hall in Dartry to house 300 new beds for students, as well as the expansion of the School of Law and the refurbishment of the Arts Block.

A master plan is being developed for the Grand Canal Innovation District centred on a new campus in the heart of Dublin’s docklands. And there are plans for the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute which will provide a comprehensive cancer care centre on the St James’s Hospital campus.

As well as these capital projects, the Estates Strategy incorporates a long- term refurbishment plan and conservation plan which will take in the Library as well as other key buildings on campus. It also provides for a residential strategy that will serve the long-term needs of staff and students.

Professor Campbell added:“The Estates Strategy will allow the campus to continue to evolve and support the academic mission by improving the efficiency and quality of learning space and by introducing adaptive reuse of buildings to meet future requirements. It will upgrade heritage buildings, support growth areas and position the campus for the future.”

Concluding the launch, Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast said:“Space is essential to community, and in Trinity our sense of community comes so much from sharing this beautiful campus. Better management of space will improve connectivity across the University. The building of new transformative spaces, like the E3 Learning Foundry, will enable new approaches in teaching.”

Prof Campbell with Director of Campus Infrastructure, Mike Clark & Paul Roberts of Turnberry consultancy.