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You are > Home > Construction starts on ¤5m research building
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Construction starts on ¤5m research building
By Deirdre Dalton
THE first sod was turned on a new €5m four-storey research building at Waterford Institute of Technology’s West Campus at Carriganore by Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism last week.
Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI), the development designed by Devereux Architects is being built by BAM Construction. It represents the next phase of expansion at the campus where much of the Institute’s fourth level research, development and innovation activity is now concentrated.
Set for completion in 2011, the building will be clearly visible from the Waterford City Bypass and is being developed to the northwest of the ArcLabs Research and Innovation Centre. With a maritime design, it will overlook the nearby River Suir and accommodate offices and meeting rooms for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers as well as general office and laboratory space.
Speaking as work commenced on site, Minister Cullen said: “Continued investment in Ireland’s research infrastructure is a central part of our push towards delivering on the ‘smart economy’ agenda that offers the strongest prospects for economic recovery and a return to sustainable growth.
“Following on from the refurbishment of Carriganore House, the development of ArcLabs and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, this latest phase of development marks another milestone in the rollout of the terrific vision that exists for this location where excellent sports facilities are also nearing completion. The West Campus is, of course, more accessible than ever to the entire region since the opening in October of the N25 Waterford City Bypass,” he said.
Redmond O’Donoghue, Chairman, Waterford Institute of Technology, added: “In what is our 40th year, the Institute and the wider community in the southeast can be justly proud of the great strides that have been made by researchers here. This latest significant addition to our West Campus will allow that work to continue to grow in scope and depth.
“It is vital that we maintain investment in the research that will deliver the employment opportunities of tomorrow.
The additional space to be provided by this latest campus expansion will allow further growth of our Telecommunications Software Systems Group (TSSG) which has won €40m in national and international research funding for 85 projects over the last five years alone.”
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