Planning for an Integrated Educational Campus at UCD
The University recently welcomed the Irish Planning Institute to the Belfield Campus as part of a Continued Professional Development (CPD) series organised by the Greater Dublin Branch.
Designed to encourage the exchange of various perspectives, the aim of the CPD event was to give an overview of the approach adopted by the University while planning an integrated education campus at Belfield. A summary of ongoing and planned development projects was also presented.
Offering members of the Irish Planning Institute a chance to ask questions and obtain feedback on some of the current planning opportunities and challenges facing the University, the event included a number of presentations followed by a lively question and answer session.
Factors influencing the rising demand for university space were presented in the context of the new UCD Strategic Plan to 2014; Forming Global Minds, including the rise of student numbers, the move towards increased internationalisation of the student body, the growth in demand for research and innovation space, and funding constraints.
The evening also provided an insight into the documents that guide the development of the Belfield Campus, including the UCD Strategic Plan to 2014, the UCD Campus Development Plan 2005-2010-2015, the UCD Commuting Strategy 2009-2012-2015 and the Draft UCD Campus Landscape Framework.
Topics covered during the discussion included the University’s approach to implementing sustainable measures in relation to the strategic planning, management and operation of university buildings, landscape, commuting and physical infrastructure.
Highlighting one of the University’s ambitious capital development projects, a short summary on the University’s Gateway Project was also presented by Project Director Professor Philip Bourke. As noted in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Development Plan 2010-2016, the Local Authority “…will support and facilitate the development of a “Gateway” scheme at the N11 entrance to the UCD campus … which should encourage greater interaction with the neighbouring community and the wider public…and will provide for a range of uses normally associated with a major international university...”.
Transforming the entrance to the Belfield Campus, the Gateway Project aims to position Belfield as a sustainable 21st century University, creating a central circulation space with open landscaped areas.
Following a lengthy discussion session, a tour of major new buildings on campus was provided to illustrate how the University continues to progressively implement plans for the development of a modern, sustainable, healthy and living campus.
“The attendees were particularly interested in hearing about the overall urban design and transportation issues relating to the education campus as well as how the campus has engaged with the surrounding city. The walking tour of the campus was particularly helpful in relating the topics covered by the three speakers to the design and layout of the campus on the ground”.
Irish Planning Institute: Greater Dublin Area Branch (November 2010)
The Irish Planning Institute is the independent professional body representing planners engaged in physical, spatial and environmental planning in Ireland. Approximately 20 planners with a variety of background and experience from both the public sector and professional practices attended the event.
Click to download the Planning for an Integrated Educational Campus at UCD Presentation.
For queries and further information, please contact campusdevelopment@ucd.ie
