1912 – Proposal for University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin

The successful entry by Doolin & Butler for a new university building on Earlsfort Terrace, as published in The Building News, November 9 1912. There are a few differences between the published design and the completed building, notably the central tower which was never constructed. The completed building is now the National Concert Hall.

Described in The Builder, May 13 1927: “That portion of the new buildings of University College in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, which has now been completed, is known as blocks “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” and accommodates the Departments of Experimental Physics and of Chemistry, Aris, and Administration. The other faculties of the University are accommodated in the old buildings on the site and elsewhere. The scheme for providing new buildings was initiated in 1912, and competitive designs invited, Mr. Henry T. Hare, F.R.I.B.A., London, being appointed assessor The design submitted by Prof. R. M. Butler, F.R.I.B.A., was selected, and has been completed in part, with, however, considerable modification

The site consisted of the old Royal University of Ireland, which was not originally built for educational purposes, but for the Dublin Exhibition of 1865. The building and site were acquired in 1880 by the Government on the passing of Royal Letters Patent establishing the Royal University and in 1884 were added to; the additional buildings were designed by the architectural staff of the Board of Works. When the old Royal University was acquired by University College, as a result of the Irish Universities Act of 1906, it was apparent that the buildings were entirely inadequate for the requirements of the college, and unsuitable for modern educational purposes; the site itself was irregular in shape, and too restricted to permit of suitable or sufficient accommodation being provided. At this juncture two adjoining plots of ground were generously resented to the college by Edward Cecil, first Earl Iveagh, M.A., LLD., K.P. K.C.V.0. The site was thereby squared and rendered somewhat more suitable for the erection of new buildings.

A contract was let to Messrs. G. and T. Crampton, building contractors, Dublin, and the work completed 1920. The scheme provides for the ultimate removal of all the old buildings and the erection of an entirely new college. The buildings are of stone, faced with a fine white limestone from the Stradbally Quarries.”