Construction commences on long-awaited university buildings for Waterford and Carlow
Minister James Lawless with Veronica Campbell, SETU president, turning the sod for the commencement of construction. Photo: Mary Browne
The eagerly awaited start of construction work on the second phase of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme has commenced, which includes two significant capital projects for SETU.
The Engineering, Computing, and General Teaching Building at the University’s Cork Road Campus in Waterford, along with the Advanced Science Building at the Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow, are among the five projects included in this project bundle.
The new building at the University’s Waterford campus is designed for over 3,400 students and is the largest project in the programme bundle.
The 12,894 sqm building will feature laboratories, lecture rooms, and studios that will support new teaching methods and foster multidisciplinary study and training.
The five-storey over lower ground floor building will incorporate a central atrium and provide general teaching spaces.
The approved planning application for the development also included two new disabled access parking bays, 360 cycle spaces, and the removal of an existing campus service road.
In addition is the creation of soft landscaping and footpath connections to the existing campus landscaping, a hard landscaped entrance area, seating and lighting stands.
The approved planning application includes for all site signage, utility connections and ancillary site works associated with the project.
A report accompanying the application emphasised the importance of the building to Waterford and the further south east region, stating: "The new building will provide a significant addition to the SETU Waterford campus infrastructure.
"It improves the facilities offered by a number of school faculties and will enhance the student experience. In addition, the proposed development will further enhance the City of Waterford’s reputation as a centre for educational excellence both nationally and internationally, bringing both economic and social benefit to the wider community and City of Waterford."
Meanwhile, the 6,100 sqm project in Carlow will support an increase in STEM students, with new science and health science laboratories, clinics, and a 40m indoor sprint track.
These developments are part of the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme announced in 2017, which is delivering 11 new STEM facilities across multiple campuses in Ireland.
The other projects in this phase of the programme are at the Atlantic Technological University, Galway and Letterkenny campuses and at Technological University of the Shannon, Moylish Campus.
The addition of the building to the SETU campus in Waterford has long been in the balance and for years the penned site on the Cork Road has been vacant and overgrown.
Plans for the development of the much-needed engineering building go back as far as 2007.
In 2009 the development was progressed with outline planning permission granted. However, the project was cancelled in 2011.
A previously granted planning application for the building from 2019 expired on December 17 of 2024, and no building works ever commenced.
Planning reports state that "major black swan events" led to multiple disruptions to the development, including the economic downturn in the late 2000s and the Covid-19 pandemic.
A planning application, which was submitted on September 3, 2024, was almost identical to the application from 2019, apart from containing an additional 66 cycle spaces.
This application, which was granted permission in October of last year, has now reached its commencement date, and construction can finally commence.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD marked the significant milestone in the programme during the official sod turning last week, saying, “These significant capital projects at SETU’s campuses in Waterford and Carlow demonstrate both my own and the Government’s commitment to excellence across all our higher education institutions. It reflects our focus on achieving regional balance, delivering lasting educational infrastructure and investing in current and future generations.
“These state-of-the-art facilities will have a transformative impact on SETU and the region.”
Welcoming the Minister’s announcement, SETU President, Professor Veronica Campbell, said the two major capital projects for SETU represent a substantial investment in the University and the future of technological higher education in Ireland.
“The Engineering, Computing, and General Teaching building and the Advanced Science building will be transformative for SETU and for our students from across the region and beyond,” said Prof. Campbell.
“Both projects align with local and regional planning goals, contributing to SETU’s ambition for the South East to become a 'UNESCO Learning region' with a strong, innovation-driven economy,” she added.
Meanwhile, Keith Williams, Director of Capital Projects at SETU, stated, “The commencement of construction on these two buildings marks a significant milestone for the University and the delivery of its Strategic Plan.
“These facilities are essential to accommodating the growing number of students, researchers, and staff at SETU. They underscore our commitment to creating a sustainable future for SETU and the wider South East region.
"This investment not only reflects our dedication to academic excellence and an outstanding student experience, but also ensures we remain responsive to the evolving needs of 21st-century learners.”
