This new 14,300 square metre building unites the University’s five engineering departments housing undergraduate and postgraduate facilities for 1300 students including laboratories, research facilities, workshops, computer suites and lecture rooms. This landmark development represents a step change in engineering accommodation, providing a holistic 21st century learning environment and makes a vital contribution to the School of Engineering & Informatics, the University and the City of Galway.
This project involved bringing together the five Engineering Faculties from thirteen separate locations across campus into a single building. Extensive briefing with the end users was a key aspect of this project.
This project has been procured in accordance with public procurement directives. The contract adopted was the new public works contract designed by the employer. Due to the complexities of the project the new public works contract necessitated tendering a number of works packages in advance of the main contract, which included passenger lifts, curtain walling and tree removal. All packages then required co-ordination into the tender documentation for the main contractor.
The site is located within a busy part of the North Campus at NUI Galway, and therefore required careful planning to ensure safety of students, staff, the public and contractors’ staff. It also bounds a special area of conservation and the River Corrib, and therefore required very sensitive treatment during the planning and delivery stage on site.
AECOM provided project management, cost management and M&E cost control services on this project. AECOM also provided cost benefit analysis.
The Engineering Building has been voted Ireland’s favourite new building.
Engineering Building NUI Galway was the Public Choice in the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2012. The Public Choice Award is set up to raise awareness of architecture in Ireland. The New Engineering Building was also voted Ireland’s Best Sustainable Project 2012 by the RIAI with carefully planned passive measures result in over 50 percent reductions in Energy usage.
The new Engineering Building has been voted runner-up Engineering Project of the Year by the Irish public in an online vote as part of the second Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards in association with ESB.
The New Engineering Building won Best Sustainable Project in the 2011 Irish Concrete Society Awards on the 30th March 2012.