University College Dublin’s Future Campus Competition Finalists

Entry by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (© Diller Scofidio + Renfro)

Six design teams have been selected as finalists in the Future Campus – University College Dublin International Design Competition.

The teams’ urban design visions for an Entrance Precinct Masterplan and concept designs for a new circa €48m Centre for Creative Design are now available to view on the competition website at:https://competitions.malcolmreading.com/universitycollegedublin/shortlist

The brief to competitors was to draw up an urban design vision that foregrounds a highly-visible and welcoming entrance precinct, and create a concept design for a charismatic yet integrated new 8,000 sqm building – the Centre for Creative Design – that expresses the University’s creativity. The Future Campus project is intended to create a stronger physical presence and identity for the University within Dublin, and raise the profile of UCD nationally and internationally.

The six teams (lead consultants listed in alphabetical order below with full details in theNotes to Editors) were selected in April by a panel chaired by the competition jury chair Professor Andrew J. Deeks, President of University College Dublin. The shortlist was expanded from the expected five to six in recognition of the outstanding response from the international design community.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro(US)
John Ronan Architects(US)
O’Donnell + Tuomey(Ireland)
Steven Holl Architects(US)
Studio Libeskind(US)
UNStudio(Netherlands)

The first stage of the competition, which sought expressions of interest detailing each competitor’s proposed team and experience, attracted 98 teams from 28 countries.

Each finalist team will receive an honorarium of €40,000 for their competition work and international teams were required to team up with a local executive team for the second stage.

Known as Ireland’s Global University, University College Dublin is the country’s largest and most internationally-engaged higher education body, the destination of choice for international students coming to Ireland. It is also the most popular choice for Irish students seeking a university place in their home country.

Founded as an independent university 160 years ago by the visionary John Henry Newman, UCD has been a vital and influential force in shaping modern Ireland, both politically and culturally. UCD’s ability to foster creativity and expressiveness is reflected by alumni including the 20th century’s outstanding author, James Joyce; film maker Gabriel Byrne; and comedian Dara Ó Briain; as well as many successful architects and designers.

The competition jury will assess the final submissions and interview the teams in July, with the winner announcement anticipated for August.

The jury consists of:

Professor Andrew J. Deeks (Jury Chair), President, University College Dublin
Sir David Adjaye, Principal, Adjaye Associates
Ann Beha, Principal, Ann Beha Architects and Member, Harvard University Design Advisory Panel
Joe Berridge, Partner, Urban Strategies, Inc.
Professor Hugh Campbell, Professor of Architecture, Head of Subject and Dean, School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, University College Dublin
Dermot Desmond, Chairman, International Investment & Underwriting
Professor Orla Feely, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact and Professor of Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin
Professor David P. FitzPatrick, Principal, College of Engineering & Architecture and Dean of Engineering, University College Dublin and Provost, Beijing-Dublin International College
Professor Michael Monaghan, Vice-President for Campus Development, University College Dublin
Sean Mulryan, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Ballymore
Dr Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor, Royal College of Art, London

The jury’s Administrative Chair is Malcolm Reading, Architect and Competition Director.

Finalist Designs

Diller Scofidio + Renfro (US) with Scott Tallon Walker Architects, Sasaki Associates, GROSS. MAX., Arup, Atelier Ten, IN2 Engineering Design Partnership, Linesight, Michael Slattery Associates and i3PT

Images © Diller Scofidio + Renfro

John Ronan Architects (US) with RKD Architects, CLUAA, BSM Landscape, Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture, Arup, Transsolar and Pritchard Themis

Images © John Ronan Architects

O’Donnell + Tuomey (Ireland) with Allies and Morrison, Arup, Hargreaves Associates, Superposition, Plattenbau Studio, Phil Jones Associates, Max Fordham, MLM Group, Dermot Foley Landscape Architects and Horganlynch