Ó An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today marked the commencement of the construction works of a new Digital Media Building at IADT in Dún Laoghaire.
The Digital Media Building will accommodate 920 students across a wide range of disciplines such as design, animation, visual effects, enterprise and technology. It adds capacity for close to 600 additional students to attend IADT.
The building will contain 19 state-of-the-art digital design studios, advanced computer laboratories and classrooms with five seminar rooms.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“The project will develop and transform IADTs existing facilities in the digital media building. This state-of-the-art development will improve the educational experience for current and future generations of students.
“This building will have a strong focus on supporting practice-based learning, including laboratories, workshops and studios. They will also have significant flexibility to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs, and to support hybrid and remote learning.”
Construction commenced on site in January 2023 and the expected completion date is March 2025.
David Smith, IADT President, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Minister Harris and his colleagues from the HEA and NDFA to campus to note and mark the significant progress made on the construction of the Institute's new Digital Media Building (DMB).
"The DMB's cutting-edge digital facilities will allow the Institute to significantly expand our offer in high-demand programmes such as Design, VFX and 3D Animation. With additional capacity for 600 new learners, the building will also enable the Institute to grow our existing provision across our distinct portfolio of Applied Arts, Technology, Business, Humanities and Psychology programmes."
The Higher Education Authority, acting as the Sponsoring Agency, worked with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as Approving Authority.
The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), was responsible for the procurement of this PPP project on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The NDFA will continue to be involved during subsequent phases of the project.
Mr. Andrew O’Flanagan, Director National Development Finance Agency and New ERA, said:
“Working in collaboration with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority, the NDFA is delighted to be playing a part in the delivery of this digital media building at the IADT campus.”
This project is being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 which recognises that investment in education is central to achieving a strong, future-proofed economy, balanced across the regions, and a just society in which all citizens are enabled to fulfill their potential.
This follows the conclusion and signing of the contracts for the construction of six new buildings across multiple campuses in the eastern, southern and midlands regions in December 2022.
The buildings are being delivered by Public Private Partnership (PPP) and will cost approximately €250 million ex VAT in total. The other sites are located at the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Tallaght and Blanchardstown campuses; Munster Technological University (MTU) campuses in Cork and Tralee, the Athlone campus of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).
When all six buildings in this PPP Bundle are completed, they will comprise circa 38,060 of additional building space at the campuses and will cater for 5,147 additional student places. In addition, the provision of these buildings will free up space in existing buildings and allow for new student places.
As with other PPP projects in the education sector, the contract type is design, build, finance and maintain. The Enbarr Partnership will construct the buildings using private finance and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years. Payment by the department will be by way of a monthly unitary charge over the 25-year operational period, commencing once construction has been completed.
The contract has been awarded to the Enbarr Partnership, comprising Macquarie Capital Group Ltd. (equity provider), JJ Rhatigan & Company (construction contractor) and Sodexo (facilities management). The project will be funded by AIB, Bank of Ireland, Nord/LB, Korea Development Bank and Norinchukin Bank.