Plans were today unveiled for a dramatic new redevelopment of University College Dublin's main campus by an internationally renowned architect.
Computer-generated image of how new development will look
The project will see huge new curved buildings, fronting onto one of the capital's busiest roads, that will enclose a revitalised "green oasis" at the heart of the site.
It will also incorporate a striking new Gatewayinto the university from the N11 as well as a culture and exhibition centre, cinema, hotel, student residences, office and retail facilities, creche and medical centre.
The design by award winning German architect Christoph Ingenhoven, best known for Lufthansa's new headquarters in Frankfurt and the new European Investment Bank headquarters in Luxembourg, follows an international competition involving 62 firms from across the globe.
Dr Hugh Brady, President of UCD, said the university was delighted with the architect's vision which has yet to get the green light from planners. "The creativity of the design from Christoph Ingenhoven's team meets the vision we set out to create a precinct of modern beauty which blends with the natural landscape of the campus and surpasses environmental standards for energy usage," he said.
Inside the new enclosed area green spaces will be bounded by a tree-lined belt walk with pathways creating stronger links between the various campus buildings. The architects want to reduce the size of the existing lake and soften its edges to create space for the new circular green spaces. The centrepiece of the 13 hectare redevelopment will be a huge six-storey high open air Gatewaycovered with a glass roof and a pedestrian plaza.
The Gatewaybuildings will include the new exhibition centre, cinema, hotel and 1000 new student residences as well as other attractions. "The new facilities will enable the university to expand its academic and non-academic conference provision and increase the out-of-term usage of the campus," said Dr Brady.
The design includes a proposed lightweight arch design for an extension to the N11 flyover with a new bridge providing a safer pedestrian environment at the entrance to the campus where people will be given priority over vehicles.
Existing surface carparks will be replaced with multi-storey and underground parking with the reclaimed land being used as green space in the beltwalk parks. The Gatewaycomplex will integrate low energy and building control systems to reduce total energy consumption, intelligent facades to provide insulation, natural ventilation and maximum daylight, the architects say.
Efficient lighting systems, solar and geothermal-backed conditioning systems and "non stand-by" technologies will also reduce energy demand, according to the design.