university of limerick

[Goofy]

The plans for the extension of the library and for the redesign of the central core of the PESS building are up on the county council website.
http://www.lcc.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=11487
http://www.lcc.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=101182

The renders of the library look very impressive. and the redesign of the PESS building will be a vast improvement. That lecture hall that is there at the moment is awful. A new sports hall is included in the plans too.

[rumpelstiltskin]

The Irish phobia of building anything above four storeys manifests itself again - and this in a location where there aren't any houses for a radius of a mile.

[CologneMike]

UPSTART ~ ED WALSH

Friends, Foes and Founding a University

Ed Walsh, son of a Cork butcher, returned to Ireland in 1970 to blunder into setting up an institute of education when Limerick wanted a university.

Ireland's academic and religious 'old boys' clubs' attempted to put manners on Ed.

But he found a decaying mansion on a riverside site and gathered talented young people.

Soon officialdom came to dread Ed's letters and the certainty that if they didn't reply to his satisfaction, he'd be bounding into their Dublin sanctums in short order.

Limerick's National Institute of Higher Education opened two years later.

Despite a vicious recession Ed secured funding from the World Bank and European Investment Bank to build what became the University of Limerick.

He made powerful enemies as he challenged official cant, traditional academics and clerical humbug.

Later he won the support of a reclusive Irish-American who secretly pumped millions into the Limerick campus and later throughout Ireland.

With surprising candour Ed describes his academic and political struggles, and his efforts to straddle the divide between warring factions.

O’Mahony’s Bookshop

It seems to have all the ingredients of a good read. I’ll put it on my wish list for Christmas.

[pigtown]

Some activity on the medical school site in the past few weeks. Not sure if it's full steam ahead or if they're just weather proofing the site after it was abandoned last year. Also the new sports pavillion is nearly complete. They were taking down the timber fence and blocking the construction entrance today. It's got a very elaborate entrance.

[teak]

It seems to have all the ingredients of a good read. I’ll put it on my wish list for Christmas.

In actual fact, Walsh seems to be an innovator in form as far as biography is concerned.
Never seen a man's diary used so fixedly in generating the narrative of an autobiography.
Seldom much reflection on his then actions or motives.

Have it on your wish-list for other people to get for you.
But not a good personal buy.

My wish-list has the founding of a proper independent Arts & Humanities faculty in UL -- something Walsh never seemed to see the need for (I wonder why so was that now . . . ) .

[CologneMike]

Never seen a man's diary used so fixedly in generating the narrative of an autobiography.

Sounds like a “Captain‘s Logbook”. I’ll have to wait until St. Stephen’s day before commenting.

[lukejr]

A quick update on the works at the PESS building in UL. Seems to be progressing nicely.

[pigtown]

The windows were going in to the Medical School when I passed today. It's not the nicest building I've seen but it will be great to have that side of the campus finished for the time being.
Also a recent issue of An Focal the student paper led with the story of a new student centre being planned for the carpark near the Languages Building. Apparently the stables complex is outdated and a new centre is needed.

[CologneMike]

Medical School Accommodation



Medical School

They are a year behind schedule due to the original builder going bust.

Photos from Sparky No 1

[CologneMike]

Here is a nice shot of the Sports Pavilion near the Medical School.

Hope they never have issues with flooding!

Photo from Sparky No 1

[pigtown]

Some scaffolding coming down on the medical school recently. I take it back, it is actually nice. Quirky but in a good way.

[lukejr]

The medical building should be ready for September, all the windows are now in and a lot of the internal work is being done. Also the new medical student accommodation blocks are nearly done, you can see lamp shades and kitchen presses already installed through the window.

The new UL Medical Building.

UL Medical Building and Accommodation Apartments

I took a snap of the improved PESS building, it is now finished after undergoing a redevelopment this year.

PESS building after work.

[CologneMike]

Medical School Building - Health Sciences Building



Medical School Residences - Medical School Building



Medical School Residences

Photo updates as seen at Sparky No 1

Campus Map (PDF)

[CologneMike]

Bernal Building ~ RKD Architects

Planning Application 12813 ~ University of Limerick Campus

A new four storey academic building with plant rooms at roof level with a gross floor area 7652sqm comprising of offices, research laboratory facilities and associated support spaces, write up areas and meeting rooms, a 200 seat lecture theatre with break out area, construction of a new transformer and switch room, new two storey pedestrian link bridge into Material and Surface Science Building and associated site works including minor realignment of existing road and relocation of bus stop.

UL The Bernal Project (pdf)

Plans for €52m science centre at University of Limerick (Limerick Leader)

[CologneMike]

Bernal Building ~ Willing Foe Design

Initial design studies for a modern purpose built academic research laboratory facility adjoining existing (70s) laboratory building on Limerick University campus. The project consisted of 2 phases of development to house a variety of lab types with different programmatic requirements - access from ground level, double height etc. A mix of academic support services were wrapped about 2 laboratory blocks. A lower ground floor, lit through a series of rooflights and openings in the ground plane provides connections to existing routes through the campus. (link)

[CologneMike]

Public lecture to examine influence of UL campus (Limerick Leader)

A free public lecture focussing on the University of Limerick and the contribution of its buildings to local and national architecture will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 8 pm.

The event, at County Hall, will be presented by architect, historic building consultant and architectural historian, Judith Hill and forms part of Limerick County Council’s sixth season of biennial lectures on the Built Heritage of Limerick.

During the lecture, Ms Hill will trace the influences on the UL campus, describe its development and assess its impact.

Tuesday’s lecture is open to the public and admission is free.

[gunter]

Free public lectures are great, however, as the subject of an architectural discussion, does the UL campus not resemble a boneyard of 1990s Credit Unions?

[CologneMike]

Gunter you should pop that question on Tuesday night. I'm sure some of the following may turn up too.

UL Building by date of completion and architect (1972-2012)

(1972) Physical Education ~ Delany, McVeigh and Pike
(1974) Interdisciplinary Blocks A and B ~ Patrick Whelan and Building Design Partnership
(1978) Schrödinger ~ Pearse McKenna
(1984) Interdisciplinary Blocks C, D and E ~ Patrick Whelan and Building Design Partnership
(1985-7; 1999) Stables Student Centre ~ Patrick Whelan, Kelly, Barry, O'Brien
(1987) Schuman Building ~ Patrick J. Sheahan
(1987-91) Plassey Residences ~ Quinn Savage Smith
(1991) Track Building ~ A and D Wejchert
(1993) Foundation Building Concert Hall ~ Patrick Whelan
(1994-7) Kilmurry Residences ~ Quinn Savage Smith
(1996) Lonsdale ~ A and D Wejchert
(1997) Glucksman Library ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(1998) Horticultural Compound ~ Quinn Savage Smith
(1999) Computer Science ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(1999) Silver Apples Crèche ~ John Thompson and Partners
(2000-1) Arena ~ Project Architects
(2001) Sports Club ~ Project Architects
(2001) Dromore Residences ~ Quinn Savage Smith
(2001) Security Lodge ~ Kelly, Barry, O'Brien, Whelan
(2002) Materials and Surface Science Institute ~ Building Design Partnership
(2004) Vehicular Bridge ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(2004) Thomond Residences ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(2005) Engineering Research ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(2005-8) Languages and Common Room ~ Murray Ó Laoire
(2005) Health Sciences ~ Building Design Partnership
(2006) Cappavilla Residences ~ Project Architects
(2007) Living Bridge ~ Wilkinson Eyre
(2007) Boathouse ~ Conor Dennison Architects
(2008) Irish Chamber Orchestra Hall ~ Project Architects
(2008) Kemmy Business School ~ RKD
(2010) Irish World Academy of Music and Dance ~ DLB Cordier / KOBW
(2010) President's House ~ Grafton Architects
(2011) Tierney Building ~ RKD
(2012) Pavilion ~ Project Architects
(2012) Graduate Medical School ~ Grafton Architects
(2012) Quigley Residences ~ Grafton Architects

Source Book: The University of Limerick ~ A History by David A. Fleming

[CologneMike]

Campus Master Plans 1973 - 2010

From the same book mentioned above, are scans of the various campus master plans from 1973 to 2010.

Unfortunately the book was printed in black and white, as a consequence the coloured hightlights of the original plans are therefore lost.

[pigtown]

It's interesting that the latest plan doesn't plan for the new Bernal building. Does this mean that the plan is only an idea that won't be followed?
Also the plan for the marina at the western end of the campus sounds cool. I hope the buildings are residences though, getting fro the Schmann building to the Schrodinger building between classes is difficult enough. That extra distance would make it near impossible.

[CologneMike]

It's interesting that the latest plan doesn't plan for the new Bernal building. Does this mean that the plan is only an idea that won't be followed?

I suppose it reflects the practical business nature of UL to adapt to the needs of Ireland in a fast changing world.

It connects with the nearby Material and Surface Science Institute building via a two storey pedestrian link bridge.

According to the Leader, incubation units will facilitate the development of high potential start-up companies based on the products and processes developed in the Bernal facility.

Also the plan for the marina at the western end of the campus sounds cool. I hope the buildings are residences though, . . . .

I wonder why they (Limerick County Council and UL) had not more foresight regarding the location of the sewage-treatment plant.

Its part of the campus now!