Projects

Planning

Buildings & Estates is responsible for the planning and development of the University estate.

Master Planning

Responsible for the ongoing review and preparation of the University Estate Masterplan in consultation with the relevant approval groups and the University community. Masterplanning exercises also include the preparation of a landscape plan, an external amenity areas strategy, a development control policy and statements of fundamental design and development principles.

Project Planning 

This involves preparing or procuring outline briefs, feasibility studies and early cost projections to facilitate decision-making by the University. When the University is comfortable to proceed with a plan, project, or development, the team provides the necessary backup to ensure delivery. 

Project Management

• Appointing Design Teams: 
  Responsible for engaging project design teams in the University. Development Projects may require the appointment of services such as architects, engineers, cost consultants and other specialists.
  
  
• Execution of the Project: 
  Responsible for the appointment of a building contractor and the relevant associated contractors to carry out the works in consultation with the design teams.
  
  
• Completion and Review of Work: 
  When a project is complete, the team carries out an evaluation of the works and establishes user satisfaction and value for money.  

Completed Projects

An Bhialann

Refurbishment of An Bhialann Restaurant and Upgrade of Hardiman Library Podium.

This project replaced the existing Bialann restaurant and its seating, serveries, ceilings, internal courtyard and services, with a modern fresh and acoustically improved space with more seating.  It also involved the creation of podium level lighting ‘pods’ and re-waterproofing large sections of the failing podium. Works completed during the summer period of 2010.

Designer: Reddy Architecture and Urbanism
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Áras Cairnes

‌Forming a continuation of the former St. Anthony’s building in the north campus, this 5,000 sq.m. building accommodates, among others, the J. E. Cairnes Graduate School of Business & Public Policy.

Designer: RKD Architects
Contractor: McNamara Construction

Áras Moyola

Situated in the north campus on a site adjacent to the former St. Anthony's building, this 7,500 sq.m. building accommodates the Nursing, Midwifery, Therapies and Political Science & Sociology disciplines.

Designer: Kelly Todd Architects
Contractor: Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd

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Arts Millennium Building extension

An extension to the Arts Millennium Building brings together the School of Psychology in a single building. With a floor area of 2,600 sq.m. the building includes state of the art research facilities including the Faraday and anechoic laboratories.

Designer: Moloney O'Beirne Architects
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Bicycle Compound

The compound is centrally located on campus and provides a secure lockup facility for staff and students with a capacity for 300 bicycles.  This supports the University policy to promote cycling and reduce car use, and has features such as security access control, lighting and CCTV coverage.   The compound opened in 2014.

Designer: O'Donnellan & Co Architects
Contractor: Glenman Corporation Ltd

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Biomedical Sciences

The Biomedical Sciences Research Building provides state-of-the-art research facilities for biomedical science research. It accommodates and supports over 280 full-time biomedical researchers and 35 Principal Investigators in addition to core facilities, technical and support staff.  This 8,100 sq.m. building was completed in 2013.

In 2016 this building was awarded the prestigious national design award for Sustainability in the United States for Sustainability.  This was COTE (Committee on the Environment) award by the American Institute of Architects.

Designer: Reddy Architecture and Urbanism in association Payette Architects
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Clinical Science Institute Refurbishment

Works on the refurbishment were completed during the summer of 2015.  Following the completion of the new adjoning Translational Research building, and the migration of the laboratories out of the Clinical Science Institute, this work provided new classroom and office accommodation for the School of Medicine spread over each of the three floors of the building.

Designer: Taylor Architects
Contractor: Carey Construction Ltd

Crèche

The University Crèche was constructed in 2007 and extended in 2009.  It caters for up to 60 children and is located on Newcastle Road Upper.

Designer: Simon J Kelly Architects
Contractor: Glenbank Construction Co

Concourse Extension

This extension to the originally designed 1970s Concourse building provides accommodation for the campus branch of the Bank of Ireland.  With an area of 600 sq.m., it was completed in 2010.

Designer: Scott Tallon Walker
Contractor: McNamara Construction

Engineering Building

The Engineering building brings together 5 academic and research disciplines from 13 separate locations under one roof. With an area of 14,250 sq.m., the building provides teaching and research facilities for the College of Engineering and Infomatics and can accommodate over 110 staff and 1,100 students. The building has won 5 awards, including the Peoples Choice awards from the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland in 2012.  

The inclusion of a large amount of ‘green’ initiatives and devices have given the building a relatively low energy usage. The building acts as a piece of research and teaching apparatus, enabling the researchers to gather ‘live’ data from sensors and meters built in to the building. 

Designer: RMJM Architecture and Taylor Architects
Contractor: BAM Building

Goldcrest Village

The project involved the construction of a residential development on the north university campus delivering 429 student bed spaces across 76 apartments.  Each apartment comprises of 4, 5 or 6 en-suite bedrooms with shared living and kitchen facilities.  The building configuration is in four separate blocks ranging from 3 to 5 storeys with open courtyards separating the blocks and has a gross floor area of 12,600 sq.m.  The courtyards provide passive recreation spaces.  Shared spaces and facilities are provided in the form of a common room at reception, laundry and indoor bicycle storage.  

The development complements the existing 760 bed student village at Corrib Village (Baile na Coiribe).

Designer: Coady Architects / Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios

Hardiman Research Building

The Hardiman Research Building adjoins the existing James Hardiman Library building and provides state-of-the-art research facilities for over 400 postgraduate research students in arts, humanities and social sciences.  Accommodation includes open plan research areas, meeting rooms, offices and seminar rooms. This 5,500 sq.m. building was completed in 2013.

Designer: Reddy Architecture and Urbanism
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Human Biology Building

This five-storey building will accommodate the disciplines of Anatomy, Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Physiology. This will provide a single building for the three disciplines which are currently located in separate locations on campus.  

It will comprise a mix of spaces including teaching laboratories, lecture theatres and classrooms for both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, offices and specialist support spaces.  It is a four-storey building over basement with a roof top plant enclosure.  With a gross floor area of 8,200 sq.m., it is currently under construction and due for completion in 2017.

Designer: Scott Tallon Walker
Contractor: BAM Building

Lambe Institute 

The Lambe Institute (Clinical and Translational Research Building) is located on the adjacent University Hospital Galway (UHG) campus and has a total floor area of 5,400 sq.m.  University of Galway occupies 2,700 sq.m. in the upper two floors, laboratory style space called the Translational Research Facility.  The lower two floors is a short stay clinical trials/research hospital facility called the Clinical Research Facility and is operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE).  This four-storey building opened in 2015.

The Lambe Institute aims to facilitate cutting-edge medical research side-by-side with patient care in UHG.  The building is directly connected to UHG and the Clinical Sciences Institute.

Designer: Reddy Architecture and Urbanism
Contractor: BAM Building

Lifecourse 

The Lifecourse building is a 3,600 sq.m. office and teaching building.  It accommodates the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, the Centre for Disability & Law and the Child & Family Research Centre. Completed in 2014, the building has a large atrium/exhibition space along with a 240 seat auditorium which is suitable for conferences and events. 

Designer: Simon J Kelly Architects
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Medical Academies

This involved the construction of three new medical academies located at teaching hospitals with the Saolta (HSE) West & Northwest Hospital groups.  These facilities provide lecture, clinical skills, study, meeting and office accommodation in support of medical students during their hospital clinical placement.   

Donegal Medical Academy, Letterkenny University Hospital
This project involved the construction of a 3-storey extension to the hospital of which the Academy occupies the ground and first floors.  With a total of 640 sq.m. the new accommodation includes classrooms, clinical skills labs, meeting rooms and offices.
Designer: Rhatigan Architects
Contractor: Boyle Construction

Mayo Medical Academy, Mayo General Hospital
The former Roman Catholic Chapel, originally designed by Mr Edward Keville Dixon, was opened in 1902 and deconsecrated in 2010.  The protected structure status of the building provided unique challenges in both design and construction. The new 620 sq.m. facility provides teaching, study and administrative spaces over two floors.
The project was named Conservation Project of the Year at the 2016 Irish Construction Industry Awards.
Designer: Taylor Architects
Contractor: MVS Construction

 

Sligo Medical Academy, Sligo Regional Hospital
This project involved the construction of a 2-storey rooftop extension on top of an existing six-storey hospital block. With a total area of 746 sq.m. the new accommodation includes classrooms, clinical skills labs, meeting rooms and offices.
Designer: Rhatigan Architects
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

This three-storey library and teaching facility is linked to the James Hardiman Library building via a link bridge at first floor level and provides 600 sq.m. of accommodation for the School of Nursing.

Nursing Studies Library

Designer: Scott Tallon Walker
Contractor: McNamara Construction 

O'Donoghue Centre

The building is a protected structure adjacent to the Bank of Ireland Theatre and the Bailey Allen Hall. Originally a bonded warehouse it has served as a munitions factory and a pram factory.  Its most recent use by the University was as engineering laboratories prior to the construction of the new engineering building.  The project involved the complete renovation and refurbishment of the building and provides a home for Drama, Theatre and Performance studies.  It includes a 120 seat "blackbox" theatre, rehearsal rooms, classrooms and administrative areas.  

Designer: Taylor Architects
Contractor: Purcell Construction Ltd

Orbsen Building

Approximately 6,000 sq.m. in size, this ‌building on the riverside of the main NUI Galway campus accommodates the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, the Environmental Change Institute, REMEDI (REgenerative MEDicine Institute) and a restaurant. 

Designer: Kelly Todd Architects
Contractor: McNamara Construction

O'Shaughnessy Bridge

This pedestrian bridge spans the Eglinton Canal and serves to form part of the Greenway which runs from the city and on northward through the campus.  It forms an important aspect of the pedestrian and cycling communication routes around the campus. It is a rod-stayed pylon bridge and is named after Michael O'Shaughnessy, who was a graduate of the University and went on to become City Engineer in San Francisco.

Designer: Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers
Contractor: L&M Keating Ltd

Park and Ride Carpark

Located in the north part of the campus in the Corrib Village district, the park and ride carpark provides 500 carparking spaces, a bus set down area, a small building for bus driver welfare, pay and display spaces, a modern permeable paving system, approach roads, lighting and landscaping. It was completed in 2009.

Designer: Arup Engineering
Contractor: Glenman Corporation Ltd

Podiatry Extension

Constructed as a rooftop extension to the Áras Moyola building, this provides 600 sq.m.  of classroom and office accommodation for Podiatry. It was completed in 2010.  

Designer: Simon J Kelly Architects
Contractor: JJ Rhatigan & Co

Ryan Institute Annex

Situated adjacent to the Martin Ryan Building, the Ryan Institute Annex was completed in 2006.

Designer: Scott Tallon Walker Architects
Contractor: McNamara Construction

 

Ryan Institute Carna

This building has a gross floor area of 650 sq.m. and was completed in 2006.  Accommodation primarily includes wet laboratories for marine science research.

Designer: Scott Tallon Walker
Contractor: Glenman Corporation Ltd

 

Sports Centre

At 6,500 sq.m., the building comprises a 25m pool, 3-basketball court size main hall, 200 piece gym, 3 studios, squash and racquetball courts, a DR climbing wall, elite sports training areas and support spaces for Sports Clubs and Societies. Winning its category in the Annual Zurich National LAMA awards for Best Sporting Facility in 2010, the building is highly visible from the N6 and Quincentennial Bridge with its distinctive curved aluminium roof in three sections.

Designer: Faulkner Brown Architects | Holohan Architects
Contractor: Glenman Corporation Ltd

Wayfinding

The Wayfinding strategy is being rolled out across campus from September 2018. It divides the campus into 4 zones:

• Sports Campus
• North Campus
• Central Campus
• South Campus

Each campus zone has been defined through its vehicular entrance and principal access routes.  The boundary lines for each zone have been defined using national and regional road networks, significant geographical features and by applying a design sense and rationale.  The new zones and signage enhances the vehicular and pedestrian experience and makes it easier for visitors, students, conference delegates, couriers etc. to navigate the campus.

• Sports Campus:
  Boundary - Park & Ride to Sports Grounds
  Vehicular Entrance - Dangan
• North Campus:
  Boundary - Corrib Village to Park & Ride
  Vehicular Entrance - Upper Newcastle (at Lifecourse building)
• Central Campus:
  Boundary - North side of Quincentennial Bridge underpass to Corrib Village
  Vehicular Entrance - Upper Newcastle (Áras Cairnes)
• South Campus:
  Boundary - University Road to Quincentennial Bridge underpass
  Vehicular Entrances - University Road and Lower Newcastle (at Sports Centre)