As the country’s largest and most influential university, UCD makes a huge contribution to Ireland’s economy, culture and society. We are committed to breaking the boundaries of existing knowledge to shape a sustainable and secure future, and this relies on investing in campus facilities that support the wellbeing of our diverse academic community and promote dynamic engagement and collaboration across the university. The Belfield campus is ever evolving to meet the needs of a progressive, global university, and there are a number of significant capital projects currently underway at various stages.
The funding landscape for higher education in Ireland remains challenging, and UCD and other universities rely on philanthropic donations to help fund essential investments in infrastructure, research, and student welfare and attainment. We are grateful for the ongoing commitment and generosity of our community of alumni, philanthropic supporters and corporate partners who share our vision for UCD as a model of excellence and inclusion in education, and a place that transforms the lives of our students and the wider world.
Healthy bodies, healthy minds
UCD’s sports amenities are at the heart of a vibrant student life on campus. We are rightly proud of our elite athletes, who compete at the highest levels internationally, and we recognise the importance of having world-class facilities to support the training and development needs of these talented sportspeople. We also know that sports clubs and societies enhance the lives of a much broader cohort of students and other members of the university community who may never aspire to win medals or trophies but nonetheless derive enormous benefit – physically, mentally and socially – from getting involved in sports on campus.
As part of a wider upgrading of UCD’s sports facilities, which has included the resurfacing of playing pitches and the completion of a state-of-the-art athletics track, preliminary work has commenced on a new Sports and Amenities Precinct at the Clonskeagh end of the campus. The precinct will include a new basketball court and five new indoor tennis courts. These will be instrumental in the creation of a centre of excellence for tennis at UCD, which it is envisioned will have a transformative impact in developing and nurturing the talents of young tennis players throughout Ireland. Crucially, it will also give players an attractive choice to stay in Ireland for university while continuing to play at an elite level in national and international competitions.
These dynamic new facilities will also serve as an examination centre during the busy exam period. This will be a gamechanger for students, relieving them of the added stress of having to travel to the RDS to sit exams that cannot currently be accommodated on campus. The precinct will also include a performance building with music practice rooms and a dedicated space for dance and musical rehearsals.
Students were actively involved in the consultation process for this significant enhancement to their campus, and voted in 2019 to fund the project from the Student Centre Levy to the tune of €87 million. First introduced in 1996, the Student Centre Levy is used to fund non-academic student-focused activities and resources. UCD Foundation is seeking to raise an additional €8 million in philanthropic funding for the development of the Sports and Amenities Precinct.
A culture shift in science
Science education and discovery have always been a cornerstone of UCD, and have been a key focus of our campus development over the past two decades. The opening of UCD O’Brien Centre for Science in 2013 was the culmination of the first two phases of a major investment in UCD College of Science. Now, the third and final phase of this project is nearing completion, and UCD will be home to a modern Science District that sets a new paradigm for science education and research.
With the expansion and renovation of the West and North buildings of the original Science complex, which date back to the 1960s, the College of Science will occupy 66,000 square metres on campus, ranking it among the largest dedicated centres for science in Europe. The additional space will not only provide much-needed capacity to increase the numbers of science students and faculty at UCD, it will support a transdisciplinary approach to teaching, learning and research, and the development of a pipeline of highly competent and agile graduates with the skills and confidence to meet the challenges of the future.
Sustainability, inclusivity and student wellbeing have been to the fore at every stage of the design and construction. Retaining the original concrete structure and repurposing existing materials as much as possible has saved about 2,700 tonnes of carbon, and technologies for the capture and reuse of heat and rainwater have been incorporated in the build. The finished building will have an A3 energy rating, which is impressive for such a large space equipped with intensive laboratory facilities.
Internally, the design is focused on creating welcoming, collaborative spaces and learning commons that will enhance the student experience by fostering connection and reducing the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can sometimes arise in a big place – particularly for PhD students, whose work is often quite solitary in nature. These spaces will bring together students, faculty and researchers from all disciplines and stimulate sharing of ideas and knowledge, embracing a culture shift in the way science is taught.
A dedicated Innovation Garage will support entrepreneurship among early-career researchers. Philanthropically funded grants will be made available to allow them the time and space to explore the viability of their ideas for real-world applications, and they will have access to design support, prototyping tools and intellectual property mentoring.
Students and faculty are moving into the new facilities starting this academic year, heralding a new era for UCD Science. The focus now is on fitting out the lab spaces with adaptability in mind, building in the flexibility to evolve as new technologies emerge over the coming decades. Thank you to all the alumni, corporate partners and supporters whose philanthropic donations are making this possible.
A library for all
The €35 million redevelopment of the iconic James Joyce Library is progressing at pace, with the current phase set to deliver a new Cultural Heritage Centre. This will house the National Folklore Collection and UCD’s Special Collections, and make these valuable resources more accessible to students and the wider public.
The Library is central to student life on campus, and having a warm, welcoming, safe place to study is paramount to the student experience. This is particularly important for the many students who spend full days on campus, bookended by long commutes to and from UCD, and those with less-than-ideal study environments at home.
The refurbished library will include around 3,000 study spaces (an increase of 46%), as well as neurodiversity-friendly sensory spaces. Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of the design, which celebrates and supports the unique potential of each individual within our diverse student population.
In memory of Declan McCourt
Declan McCourt (15 April 1946 – 18 October 2024) was a visionary entrepreneur who was deeply committed to public service. He worked tirelessly to advance the ambitions of UCD Sutherland School of Law over many years in his role as chair of the Development Council, and he was instrumental in securing philanthropic funding for the Sutherland School building. A UCD alumnus himself, Declan was a great friend to the University and placed enormous value on education and scholarship. He supported philanthropic initiatives that transformed students’ lives through scholarships and bursaries. To honour his memory it is fitting that the perpetual Declan McCourt Masters Scholarship in Law has been established, thanks to generous donations from UCD alumni and friends of Declan’s, including a founding gift from American businessman and philanthropist Mark Pigott.
Thank you
The generosity of our outstanding community of alumni, volunteers, strategic partners, and friends has an extraordinary and far-reaching impact. Thank you for all that you contribute to UCD’s success.
■ To learn more about how you can support these projects and other initiatives at UCD, contact UCD Foundation by email at info@ucdfoundation.ie or telephone 353 01 716 1406.