Work begins on ambitious €87m expansion to re-imagine sports facilities at Belfield
9 July 2025
A planned €87 million expansion of sports facilities at University College Dublin is now underway.
The development is the second phase of the UCD Student Sports and Amenity Precinct Project, and will see the construction of a new three-storey multipurpose sports hall beside the existing sports centre.
This new building will double as an examination centre, allowing UCD to hold its end-of-term exams on its campus rather than in the RDS where they currently take place.
Much of the funding for the project has been delivered through the annual student centre levy (€254 in 2024/2025) that was recently extended through a student vote to ensure the University could continue to provide modern student-focused facilities on campus.
“This highly ambitious expansion of our sporting and cultural facilities at Belfield shows the deep affinity our students have with their University, and their willingness to invest in the best possible campus experience for future generations,” said (opens in a new window)UCD President Professor Orla Feely.
“Our students and graduates have a long history of being involved in, and excelling in, sports and the performing arts, and UCD alumni have figured among the world’s finest sportspersons and artists.
“This new development will ensure that the next generation of UCD students will continue this tradition,” she added.
Speaking at an event to mark the beginning of the construction of the new development, Michael Roche, President of the UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) said: “I think the foresight of the students in 2019 who voted to extend the levy is really showing.”
“And I really want to pay tribute to [them]… They’re leaving behind a project that they won't see themselves, but future students will enjoy.
“At the end of the day, this [project] is a partnership between UCD and UCD students, and I think it really shows what we can do when we work together,” he added.
Phase 1 of the development has already provided a number of new facilities to the Belfield campus including new Uefa-standard artificial football pitches, a hurling wall, six new five-a-side football pitches, and an artificial half-size hockey training pitch.
Building on this success, (opens in a new window)Professor Colin Scott, Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said it was exciting to see work now well underway on Phase 2 and the Multi-Purpose Performance & Examination Centre (MPPEC) at the heart of it.
“The evolution of our campus to support student experience is one of the great UCD stories.
“What we're seeing [with this development] is the second phase of a project that has seen the redevelopment of a lot of our pitches for sport, such as hockey and soccer.
“And now we're seeing buildings that will allow for the development of performing arts, music, theatre, dance, and so on, alongside multipurpose sports halls and a new tennis centre, which will further enhance the breadth and variety of all the activities we support for students at UCD.”
Situated next to the existing UCD Sports Centre, the MPPEC will provide a multi-purpose sports hall capable of accommodating various indoor sports and activities and examinations; a dedicated performance space, offering flexible spaces for music rehearsals and events; and a state-of-the-art tennis centre, with five indoor international level tennis courts and for examinations.
"This development is the final piece of a master plan for sport and performing arts at UCD," Dominic O'Keeffe, UCD Director of Student Services & Facilities.
"When completed it will complement our existing 50m Olympic pool and multiple fitness facilities and outdoor playing pitches. This development will enhance our community engagement both locally and nationally and make UCD the number one choice for students looking to pursue their academic career in parallel with their sporting and performing arts career."
Professor Scott added: “And in addition to providing these facilities day to day for our students, we'll also have the capacity to bring all our examinations onto the campus.
“For the first time in a very long time instead of our students having to go off campus to take exams, they'll take the examinations here.”
Phase 2 of the UCD Student Sports and Amenity Precinct Project is expected to be finished ahead of the academic year beginning September 2027.
The Student Centre Levy was first introduced in 1996 after a successful vote by the UCD student to help fund non-academic student-focused development and activity on campus. Students voted again in 2006 and 2019 to continue with the levy.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
