GMIT has submitted a planning application for a new state of the art building at the Galway campus to cater for the delivery of programmes in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM ).
The proposed 5,500 square metre building is to be located on the eastern side of the Galway campus facing the Ballybane Road. It will accommodate classrooms, laboratories, meeting rooms, research labs, seminar rooms, offices and lecture theatres.
The proposed development is supported under Project Ireland 2040 and has been developed by GMIT in association with the Department of Education and Skills, the Higher Education Authority (HEA ) and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA ). Under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership (HEPPP ) programme, 11 Higher Education Institutes including GMIT were earmarked for the funding across a variety of areas including STEM.
Cormac MacDonncha, Chairman of GMIT Governing Body, says he is delighted to mark the milestone of the planning permission lodgment on this exciting project for GMIT.
“I would like to thank all involved across GMIT, the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Skills, the National Development Finance Agency and the design team for their work in bringing this important project to this point. I’m looking forward to the day we will open this state-of-the-art university-standard facility which will serve GMIT’s STEM students for years to come,” he said.
Dr Michael Hannon, Acting President of GMIT, said the new building will greatly enhance their work in progressing towards designation as a Technological University for the west and northwest, together with their partners in the Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA ).”
“Our numbers studying STEM programmes have increased rapidly in recent years and this high-quality infrastructure equipped with the latest technology and innovative and flexible approaches to teaching and learning will greatly enhance our students’ learning experience,” he added.
The design team is led by west of Ireland based Taylor McCarney Architects.
David Lee, Buildings & Estates Manager, says the project is progressing well.
“Having worked with the client teams and the design team to bring it from inception to planning submission stage. I look forward to its successful conclusion. When completed, it will add much-needed space to our Galway campus, serving both current STEM students and attracting new ones.”
Dr Des Foley, Head of School of Science and Computing, saif they have spent a lot of time with the design team developing an innovative edge to the plans, mostly for undergraduate students and, where possible, to look to the future in areas as diverse as augmented reality and cell biology.
