University College Dublin

An architectural competition was announced in 1963 to design a masterplan layout for the new University College Dublin on a 200-acre site at Belfield in Stillorgan. The winner was also to design blocks for administration offices, the arts faculty, and examination halls.

The winner was announced on September 21 1964, with Andrzej Wejchert of Warsaw placing first. One hundred and five entries were received from twenty-four countries. A report in The Irish Independent the following day stated “The second prize of £2,000 was awarded to American architects Brian Crumlish (1928-97) and Don Sporleder (1929-2021) of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. The third prize £1,000 was awarded to five architects from Czechoslovakia, Vladimir Machonin (1920-90), Jiří Albrecht (1919-74), Jiří Kadeřábek, Věra Machoninová (1928-), and Karel Prager (1923-2001), all of Prague. Irish architects Messrs. Stephenson & Gibney were awarded fourth prize pf £500.”

The Administration Building by Wejchert was awarded the RIAI Gold Medal for 1971-73. The restaurant building was awarded the RIAI Gold Medal for 1968-70, and was designed by Robin Walker of what was then Michael Scott & Partners.

1888 – Former Masonic Boys’ School, Clonskeagh, Co. Dublin

Architect: Thomas Newenham Deane / Sir Thomas Drew

The Masonic Boys School was established for the sons of deceased,

1968 – Science Building, University College Dublin, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

Architects: Downes, Meehan & Robson

The Science Block was completed in 1964 and was the first of the new buildings built on the Belfield campus.Parts of the building have been redeveloped,

1969 – Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Church, University College Dublin

Architect: Vincent Gallagher

Built by the diocese, independent of the UCD masterplan,

1969 – Restaurant Building, University College Dublin, Co. Dublin

Architect: Robin Walker, Michael Scott & Partners

The UCD restaurant building was awarded the RIAI Gold Medal for 1968-70,

1972 – Administration Building, University College Dublin, Co. Dublin

Architect: Andrzej Wejchert

In 1964, a competition to design a masterplan for the UCD campus at Belfield was won by young Polish architect Andrzej Wejchert.

1973 – James Joyce Library, University College Dublin

Architect: John H. Glover, Spence Ferguson and Glover

1979 – School of Agriculture, University College Dublin

Architect: Rooney Associates

A strong, muscular almost brutalist facade treatment gives the Agriculture building a stern and forbidding appearance.

1994 – O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, Co. Dublin

Architect: Scott Tallon Walker

By the 1990s the need was recognized for an “aula maxima”

2001 – Student Centre, University College Dublin, Co. Dublin

Architect: Murray O’Laoire Architects

Murray O’Laoire Architects won a limited competition for the design of this Student Centre in 1991.

2003 – Centre for Research into Infectious Diseases, University College Dublin, Co. Dublin

Architect: O’Donnell + Tuomey

For the first time, the campus at Belfield has a landmark visible from its main entrance on Stillorgan Road.