university of limerick

is the portait museum still on the first floor of Plassey House?

http://ireland.archiseek.com/buildings_ireland/limerick/castletroy/plassey.html

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance Building

The result of an international competition, the new Irish World Academy of Music and Dance building will take its place in County Clare along the banks of the River Shannon. Lying at the foot of the new Pedestrian Living Bridge which will link both sides of the campus, this 4100sqm building will become the new heart of this young and vibrant University. Its architectural design is an inspired response to the ecological surroundings at the University of Limerick; this includes the many monastic influences along the River Shannon exemplified by Clonmacnoise, as well as those located in Limerick and Clare, such as Glenstal Abbey and Quin Abbey.

“This new building will provide a riverside space where musicians, dancers, composers, singers, conductors and choreographers will explore together. Musicologists and choreologists will research alongside live performance.
The history and anthropology of music and dance will provide the research surround for the rediscovery of older sounds and gestures, as well as for the discovery of new voices, and the reinvention of received traditions”.

Key Features Link

■ Tower Theatre
Situated at the very heart of the new building, the Tower Theatre resembles the monastic towers of Clonmacnoise. Scaling from the bottom floor to the top and finishing with a circular window to the sky, this atrium style facility can hold 80 people and will be a space out of which a powerful sound will resonate. The Tower will contain an awe-inspiring Pipe Organ making it an ideal venue for chant and voice performance. The music and song which will emanate from the Tower will recreate the ancient sounds which filled the air along the River Shannon’s banks 1000 years ago.

■ Sionna Theatre
Holding 200 people, this Theatre has been described as a musical laboratory. The highly versatile seating arrangements allow for maximum flexibility and versatility for teaching, learning and performance. The theatre floors will contain sprung timber parquet dance floors to optimise dance performance. This facility scales from the ground floor to the top floor and will be topped with the Rooftop ‘Cloister’ Theatre.

■ Rooftop ‘Cloister’ Theatre
The Rooftop Theatre will be used for outdoor performances. It holds approximately 200 people and has a retractable cover that can be used to protect the rooftop area should the Irish weather prove unfavourable. This area will be spectacular for performance as it will fill the riverside with music and song and draw student, faculty and visitor to the heart of the campus.

■ Shannonside Plaza and Café
The design of the new Irish World Academy building includes a “performance entrance forecourt” on the open area immediately adjacent to the Academy’s front entrance. This Plaza will embrace the Living Bridge’s arrival into County Clare and will be punctuated by a 100 seat Café. The space may also serve as an informal performance location, an exhibition or display space as well as a gathering space for people attending Academy performances.

■ Other facilities will include:
Specially designed large dance studios
Studios for the teaching of music and dance
Music and Dance Research Area
Green Room
Zen Garden
Tutorial rooms
Academic offices

I think we will be giving Miltown Malbay and Doolin a miss with all this craic on the Clare side of UL. Refreshments facility provided by the ‘Lame Duck’ 😉

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

Interesting video material (3D computer animation of proposed building). Take a tour see link. 😎

Nice bridge, although given its length, I would have thought they would have provided enough space for a cycle lane while they were at it.

Indeed, the vehicular bridge as its called has cycle lanes while the new bridge is solely for pedestrian use!

“Architecturally, the bridge cross section was developed from the concept of a ‘salmon fish tail’ protruding from the surface of the flowing river. The design of this 150m-crossing is achieved in five spans. The bridge has separate vehicular and pedestrian and cycle decks and was constructed at a cost of €13 million.”

UL Vehicular Bridge

Architectural Concept – Pedestrian Living Bridge

The load-bearing structure of the bridge is located below the level of the bridge deck. The structure does not disrupt the treeline or try to civilise the natural domain. The bridge is carefully integrated into the landscape and does not form a trajectory that is thrust through it. The experience for the bridge user is therefore not about reaching a destination on the other side of the river but is an enjoyable social interaction with nature.

Because of the dense and mature planting on the riverbanks and islands, it is difficult to gain a vantage point whereby the whole of the crossing can be viewed at once. Each of the six spans can be appreciated as a discrete crossing in its own right, forming a composition in the landscape that has human scale and that is more visually balanced than a larger span that can only be viewed in increments. The six spans are visually articulated as a series of individual leaps from pier to pier. This arrangement is expressive of the manner in which the bridge spans from island to island, and is evocative of a stone skimming across the water.

The curved route and multiple spans serve to fragment the crossing psychologically as well as visually. The bridge is experienced by the pedestrian not as a man-made intervention that has been thrust across the water, but is carefully and sensitively integrated into this unique site.

As described earlier, the bridge is formed from a string of cable-trusses, with high-tensile steel cables supporting the bridge deck from beneath via a series of steel compression members. These compression elements extend above the bridge deck to provide support to the handrail.

The geometric combination of the under-slung cables and constant inclination of compression members connecting cables and deck provides for a width of deck and distance between parapets that constantly changes along the length of each span. In this way, the edges of the structure appear to gently undulate. This causes the handrail, truss cables and bridge deck to meander gracefully as they traverse the water, imparting a sense of effortless fluidity to the bridge.

Between individual spans, the bridge is supported from sculpted steel piers. The bridge deck is widened at these locations so that natural “node” points are created. Seating and shelter is provided at the node points to provide shelter, and to encourage their use as stopping points and to enhance an appreciation of the natural environment of the crossing.

In summary, the proposed cable truss design is considered to be appropriate to the site for the following reasons:

• The bridge is at low level, and “tip-toes” across the river to maintain the distinctive environment.
• The bridge is integrated into the natural environment and is not thrust across it.
• The use of multiple spans and curving route, break-down the scale of the crossing and enhance its’ visual and physical integration into the site.
• The cable-truss is utilized as a structural device to minimize visual impact of the bridge itself.
• The refuges located at the node points will encourage social interaction.

See link Shannon Images UL Bridge

The Living Bridge is nearing completion. They were testing the lighting the other night so i took a few pics with my camera phone, sorry for the quality.

1. Looking out on to the bridge from the Milstream Courtyard end of the bridge

2. A side on view from the green behind the Millstream Courtyard complex

The view from the front of the white house, looking out across the river was class. But my camera isnt good enough to take pics from that far.

Mary Immaculate College gets another €24m for two new buildings

Limerick Leader

The physical transformation of Mary Immaculate College is set to continue into 2008, as funding worth €24m has been awarded to the college for the construction of two new buildings.
Dr Peadar Cremin, President of Mary Immaculate College, said he was delighted and relieved to hear that Minister for Education Mary Hanafin had finally given the project the go-ahead.

He said in recent years, the college has come through a period of extraordinary growth and development, with an increase in student numbers from 297 in 1991 to 2744 today.

“This growth has left the college with significant development challenges such as lack of physical space and sufficient resources as well as posing serious health and safety problems for the college,” said Dr Cremin.

This new project will involve the construction of two new buildings to accommodate lecture theatres, teaching areas, seminar rooms and various laboratories together with offices and accommodation for Mary Immaculate College Students’ Union and Student Services.

This development will also comprise of a 500-seat auditorium which will be used as the college’s largest lecture theatre and an auditorium for drama and music.

The first phase of the three-phase masterplan for campus development came to fruition this February when a multi-purpose sports hall, Tailteann, was opened.

Dr Cremin said they are also anxious that funding is made available for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of this project. Work on the two new buildings will begin next month and is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2009.

Views of Living Bridge

Also Gerry Horan has taken a few nice shots of the new “Living Bridge”. see image#1 image#2

2008 UL Project News

The Languages Building
The development will have a floor area of 1400sqm, be 3 storeys high and will provide teaching and languages laboratory facilities and offices for languages staff, including a dedicated centre for “Ionad na Gaeilge”. This buildings will complete the development of the Millstream Courtyard as it will shelter the courtyard from the prevailing westerlies. It is due to be completed in May 2008.

The Western Car Park
The westerm car park, located just west of the Robert Schuman Building, will provide a much needed 375 additional spaces. Similar to the southern car park, there will be daily charges for users, payment being made at the exit. This project is due for completion in March 2008.

The extension to the Glucksman Library and Information Services Building
A major extension to the Library Building is planned under a Public Private Partnership scheme. The project is being co-ordinated by the Department of Education and Science in collaboration with the Department of Finance. Commencement is targeted for September 2008 with completion by the end of 2010.

Irish Chamber Orchestra Hall
Located in Cappavilla Village this will be the dedicated home of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The practice hall will serve as a function venue for the Cappavilla residents and the building will also incorporate a new shop/coffee bar for residents. This project is due for completion in April 2008.

Expansion to University Arena
This expansion will incorporate a new 25m x 10m pool with a 3m high diving platform and moveable floor, a small sports hall and a cardiovascular gymnasium and weight training area. Commencement of the expansion is targeted for April 2008, to be completed by July 2009.

Irish World Academy of Music & Dance
This development is at the detailed design stage. Commencement is targeted for June 2008, to be completed by November 2009.