- Designed as a ‘living laboratory’ the Engineering Building will serve as an interactive teaching tool for students.
- The structure is among the first in Ireland to employ the use of voided slab systems.
The National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) has been a centre for teaching and research in engineering since 1849. The new Engineering Building now houses the 5 departments of civil, electronic, industrial, engineering hydrology and mechanical & biomedical engineering under one roof. This building is a striking statement for the aspiring history of engineering in Galway.
Opened in July 2011 the development includes heavy and light laboratories, offices, teaching space and lecture theatres. Situated on the banks of the river Corrib, the building was designed to complement the curves of Galway’s most famous river.
From September, the four-storey architectural gem and its 400 rooms will accommodate some 1,100 students and 110 staff. The 14,250m² building will support an emerging generation of engineers, engaged in a new wave of technologies, embracing innovation and entrepreneurship.
An educational tool
The overall design of the building has been driven by sustainability objectives to achieve a `state of the art´ educational building. This design principle has been carried through in the choice of a suitable structural scheme for the project. The main criteria for the assessment of the structural solutions were cost effectiveness, compatibility with building finishes, ease of construction, sustainability and market availability.
The scheme also reflects the requirement to maintain maximum flexibility for future use of the building, ensuring that internal re-planning can be easily incorporated. One of the key objectives for the new building is to act as an educational tool where possible through its fabric and systems, encompassing as many of the engineering disciplines to be housed in the new building as possible.
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