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University College Dublin
FUTURE
CAMPUS
INTERNATIONAL
DESIGN COMPETITION
Competition Conditions
© Malcolm Reading Consultants 2018 This document has been assembled by Malcolm Reading Consultants from research content and original content provided by University College Dublin. The combined content is intended for use only in the procurement process as described in this document. All material is provided in good faith but no warranty or representation is given as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither UCD nor its advisors shall be liable for any error, misstatement or omission in the material and no reliance shall be placed on it. Malcolm Reading Consultants is an expert consultancy which specialises in managing design competitions to international standards and providing independent, strategic advice to clients with capital projects. With nearly twenty years’ experience of projects, we are enthusiastic advocates of the power of design to create new perceptions and act as an inspiration. Images: © University College Dublin unless otherwise stated malcolmreading.com T +44 (0) 20 7831 2998
University College Dublin
FUTURE
CAMPUS
INTERNATIONAL
DESIGN COMPETITION
Competition Conditions2 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Contents
PART ONE 3
Introduction 4
Aims and Objectives 5
The Site 7
Introduction 7
Entrance Precinct Masterplan 9
Centre for Creative Design 14
Commuting 17
Current Services Provision 21
The Brief 22
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan 24
Introduction 24
Outline Area Schedule (indicative only) 24
Outline Spatial Requirements 26
Outline Design and Technical Requirements 30
Introduction 39
Outline Area Schedule (indicative only) 39
Outline Spatial Requirements 40
Outline Design and Technical Requirements 48
Planning Context 53
Project Details 55
PART TWO 58
Competition Details 59
Anticipated Competition Programme 62
How to Enter 63
Submission Requirements 64
Evaluation Criteria 72
Appendices 753 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
PART ONE4 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Introduction
The Future Campus – University College Dublin International Design Competition
is seeking an outstanding multidisciplinary design team for University College
Dublin’s Entrance Precinct Masterplan and Centre for Creative Design project.
The project will create a strong urban design vision that foregrounds a highly-
visible and welcoming entrance precinct, one combining placemaking with a
stronger physical presence and identity for the University. The Centre for Creative
Design is conceived as a charismatic new building that expresses the University’s
creativity – a making and learning lab.
At this, Stage Two of the competition, shortlisted teams are required to devise a
concept design which encompasses both key elements of the project. Competitors
are required to respond to the requirements and issues as outlined in the first stage
document, the Search Statement, and this Competition Conditions document.
The competition Jury will assess each of the schemes, interview the teams and
recommend a winner. Following the competition, the winning team will be expected
to work with University College Dublin (UCD) to develop their concept design.
The emerging scheme will be tested vigorously with internal and external
stakeholders (both statutory and non-statutory) during this period.
Part One of this document focuses on the design, programmatic and functional
requirements for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan and the Centre for Creative
Design. Part Two includes all information necessary to submit your design
proposal. This document, the Competition Conditions, should be read in
conjunction with the Search Statement Part One – which still applies and is
relevant at this stage of the competition.
competitions.malcolmreading.com/universitycollegedublin/5 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Aims and Objectives
University College Dublin’s Future Campus project strategic objectives are:
Immediate physical presence
Give the University immediate physical presence and visibility as an
internationally-minded, dynamic and creative place of learning and
research, addressing the currently recessive and largely anonymous
arrival experience.
An enhanced campus
Enhance and enliven the campus by making a highly-attractive
environment (day and night, season to season) that promotes a strong
sense of community and sociability and inspires students and faculty,
visitors and local innovators to explore new ways of learning and thinking.
A future-proofed vision
Create a strong and flexible urban design vision for this 23.8 ha area of the
overall campus, informed by placemaking, accessibility and people flows;
this anticipates the potential for up to 335,000 sq m of new development
(representing a footprint of circa 67,000 sq m).
UCD’s creative identity
Make creativity, innovation and sustainability central to UCD’s identity
through exemplary design.
Sustainable values
Affirm holistic sustainable values – from design through to operations and
use – achieving a near zero energy target, making design choices
incorporating energy-saving, green technologies where possible, and
respecting the campus’ natural environment and biodiversity, notably the
200-year-old woodland walks.
A Dublin landmark
Make the University a landmark on the Dublin map – improving
connections with the city and the immediate community/vicinity.
UCD’s international reputation and image
Raise the profile of UCD nationally and internationally through the quality
of its campus and architecture to draw more diverse, high-performing
candidates and academics.6 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Physically, the Future Campus project will:
Create an Entrance Precinct Masterplan: a strong urban design vision that
foregrounds a highly-visible and welcoming entrance experience and,
overall, combines placemaking with a stronger physical presence and
identity for the University, while also strengthening links between the
campus and the surrounding city.
Create a charismatic yet well-integrated Centre for Creative Design that is a
living learning lab – using innovative materials and new technologies to
express its purpose as the University’s home of design studios and
laboratories, and maker, project and fabrication spaces.
Increase permeability of the campus boundary – and the quality of this –
including a possible new vehicular entrance and influence improvements to
the public realm within the liminal zone between city and campus, taking
advantage of planned public transportation connections and sustainable
transport innovations/modes.7 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The Site
Introduction
The Campus Development Plan promotes the development of three character
areas within UCD’s Belfield Campus: education, research and innovation;
residential; and sport and recreation – these areas are identified on the plan on
page 8. The Entrance Precinct Masterplan area is located within the main
education, research and innovation character area.
Located at the main entrance to UCD, off the R138 dual carriageway, the Entrance
Precinct Masterplan and Centre for Creative Design will represent the visitor’s first
impressions of the University and its campus. It will act as the nexus between the
city and the University, providing immediate physical presence for UCD through a
highly-visible entrance and acting as a welcome to visitors, faculty, staff and
students. It should define the campus’ edge in a clear and unambiguous way,
whilst improving and promoting wider connectivity and permeability for this part of
the city. The project should be benchmarked against best practice internationally,
supporting UCD’s ambition to be a world Top 100 university by 2020.
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan must remain true to the sylvan and picturesque
character of the overall campus setting, whilst at the same time improving and
updating it with the qualities of vibrant and urban placemaking for the 21st century.
The masterplan will enhance the education, research and innovation of the
University, whilst also ensuring permeability within, and integration with, other
areas on campus. The masterplan should be premised on a holistic and
sustainable approach, ensuring that the designs proposed respect and enhance
the campus’ bio-diversity and natural environment whilst presenting a long-term
development plan for the siting and massing of new buildings.
The Centre for Creative Design is the first building to be delivered within the
masterplan and will be a major contributor to the overall presence for the project. It
will be an exemplar of sustainability, functionality, performance and design quality
for the University. It will help to deliver on the University’s Strategic Campus
Development Plan 2016-2021-2026 and espouse its values of excellence in design
and engagement with its stakeholders.8 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Belfield Character Areas9 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Entrance Precinct Masterplan
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan boundary is in two parts, as illustrated on the
diagram on pages 13-14.
The area within the red line boundary, encompassing some circa 23.8 ha,
represents the core Entrance Precinct. The entirety of this land is in the ownership
of the University. The main spatial requirements of the Entrance Precinct
Masterplan, as noted on pages 13-14, must be included within the red line
boundary.
The area within the green line boundary, circa 5.35 ha, lies outside of the
ownership demise of the University and is owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
County Council. Within this area competitors may consider interventions – and in
particular landscape, wayfinding and access interventions – that support the
University’s desire to increase its visibility along the R138, as well as supporting its
brief for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan. Competitors should also take into
account the physical implications of public transportation requirements and
sustainable modes of transport, including the proposed Bus Rapid Transit, and the
suggested route terminus at UCD in proximity to the entrance to campus. Further
information on this is provided on pages 19-20.
The blue line boundary on the diagram on pages 13-14 demarcates the extent of
the whole UCD Belfield Campus, and is provided for information only.
Although a red line boundary has been established to show the extent of the
design area for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan competitors should,
nevertheless, consider how their design integrates appropriately and seamlessly
into the wider campus, and the city beyond.
Competitors can also consider an alternative, or secondary, entrance into the
campus from the R138 should this be beneficial to their design concept. The recent
downgrading of the road (from a National to a Regional route) has meant that
greater possibilities exist for making new road junctions along its route.
When viewed from outside, along the R138, the campus is poorly defined by a wall
of dense foliage. This landscaped edge, although an important feature and natural
resource, obscures the campus from view. This limited physical presence,
combined with a disappointing sense of arrival, is a catalyst for this project. This is
further exacerbated by the elevated flyover crossing into campus, and the fact that
ground level within campus at this point is raised above street level.
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan site area encompasses the main (current)
vehicular route into the campus off the R138. At this point the road enters a cutting
with slip roads either side on raised embankments. A simple concrete road bridge
(A) then crosses the R138 to facilitate ingress to, and egress from, campus.
Once on the campus grounds, wayfinding is poor and confusing. On entering
campus, the road network immediately splits into a myriad of potential routes left,
right and straight ahead. Signage is often obscured by foliage or too detailed to
serve its wayfinding purpose.10 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Facing the entrance is the now redundant gatehouse reception building (B). A
small pavilion building, designed in the 1970s by Scott Tallon Walker, this building
is no longer staffed, providing only a telephone connection to the campus
information service.
Beyond the gatehouse is a collection of buildings fronted by the Centre for
Research into Infectious Diseases (CRID) (C). The building, housing a research
institute and laboratories, was completed in 2003 and designed by Irish architects
O’Donnell + Tuomey. With its prominent form concealing exhaust extracts at high
level and nestling within a wooded setting, the building sits sentinel-like close to the
campus entrance.
Behind, and co-located with the CRID, is the National Virus Reference Laboratory
(NVRL) and its extension (D). The extension, completed in 2003 by the Irish
architects McCullough Mulvin, is a timber clad three-storey pavilion of domestic
scale. The building sits on a wooded promontory overlooking Wejchert’s campus
lake (E), the focal point of the whole Belfield Campus.
To the south of CRID and NVRL are Ardmore House (F) and the Ardmore Annex
(G). Ardmore House is one of the original seven period houses that occupied the
Belfield Campus at the time of UCD’s original purchases of land in the 1930s;
plans are underway to further restore and extend Ardmore House (subject to
planning permission). Adjacent to Ardmore House to the west, outside of the
Entrance Precinct Masterplan area, is the Tierney Building (H), home to UCD’s
Registry, the current President’s Office and other UCD services such as UCD
Relations.
To the north of CRID, within the masterplan area, is a large surface car park,
accommodating 314 spaces. Between the car park and the campus lake sits
O’Reilly Hall (I), just outside the Entrance Precinct Masterplan area. O’Reilly Hall,
designed by Scott Tallon Walker and completed in 1994, is the focus for UCD’s
public engagement and major conferences and events. The Hall encompasses a
1,000 seat auditorium and the large and bright foyer overlooks the campus lake.
Adjacent to, and co-located with, O’Reilly Hall, there are plans for a University Club
(due to commence construction this year). The University Club will provide facilities
for faculty, staff and external parties to network in an appropriate and collaborative
setting.
Edging the masterplan area to the north is the Veterinary Sciences Centre and
UCD School of Veterinary Medicine (J). This sits within a wider Sciences and
Health Precinct, including the O’Brien Centre for Science (K), the Health Sciences
Centre and the Conway Institute (L). Beyond the O’Brien Centre for Science is the
Student and Sports Centre (M).
South of Ardmore House is a small pavilion building accommodating a branch of
Allied Irish Bank (AIB) (N). Adjacent and to the east is the Engineering and Material
Sciences Centre (O). Opened in 1989, it is a large, purely functional building
occupying a prominent position within campus. The building is efficient and also
contains some interesting artefacts, such as the original and working 1884 Steam
Beam Engine from the Jameson’s Distillery.11 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
To the south-west of the Engineering and Material Sciences Centre is the second,
and later, campus lake (P) and beyond this the main pedestrian spine of the
University (Q), as conceived in the 1960s Wejchert masterplan. Also edging this
second lake is the forthcoming Confucius Institute for Ireland (R) by Robin Lee
Architects and opening in 2018, the Sutherland School of Law (S) and the
Lochlann Quinn School of Business (T). Running along the main pedestrian spine
is the main humanities building at UCD, the Newman Building (U), and the James
Joyce Library (V).
North of the Engineering and Material Sciences Centre are two further surface car
parks, one of which occupies a former running track. These car parks cater for a
total of 573 spaces. Between these two car parks is the William Jefferson Clinton
Auditorium (W).
Across one of the campus drives, south-east of the William Jefferson Clinton
Auditorium, is Belfield House (X). One of the original 19th-century period houses
on campus, Belfield House is home to the Clinton Centre for American Studies.
Belfield House’s stable block (Y), to the south-east of the house, has been
converted into UCD Estate Services.
Immediately beyond the stable block, and running north-east to south-west, is an
area of protected woodland beyond which lies a substation and playing fields, both
in the masterplan area. To the south and south-west, outside of the masterplan
area, lie many of the current 3,000 student residences on campus.
Marking the southern extremity of the Entrance Precinct Masterplan area is
Merville House (Z). Merville House, another of the period houses on campus, has
been substantially extended and renovated over the years and now houses
NovaUCD, the University’s innovation and research business incubator centre.12 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Road Bridge
Gatehouse Reception Building
Centre for Research into Infectious Diseases
National Virus Reference Laboratory
Original Campus Lake
Ardmore House
Ardmore Annex
Tierney Building
O’Reilly Hall
Veterinary Science Centre
O’Brien Centre for Science
Health Sciences Centre and Conway Institute
Student and Sports Centre
Allied Irish Bank
Engineering and Material Sciences Centre
Campus Lake
Pedestrian Spine
Confucius Institute for Ireland
Sutherland School of Law
Lochlann Quinn School of Business
Newman Building
James Joyce Library
William Jefferson Clinton Auditorium
Belfield House
UCD Estates Services
Merville House
Entrance Precinct Masterplan Area Boundary
Area for additional consideration
(local authority owned)
Belfield Campus Boundary
N 100mTo Dublin
City Centre
Pedestrian
Bridge
To South Dublin
County and M50
Map data © 2018 Google15 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The exact siting for the Centre for Creative Design has not been prescribed in this
brief. Competitors may locate the building where they deem appropriate, but within
the overall red line boundary for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan. The siting
should be carefully considered, with a clear rationale. It should achieve maximum
visibility and prominence from outside the campus and on approach to the
University along the R138 whilst also ensuring appropriate adjacencies between it
and a future Engineering and Architecture Precinct, encompassing the current
Engineering and Material Sciences Centre.
Engineering and Architecture Precinct
The Campus Development Plan identifies a number of precincts within the
established character areas, one of which is the Engineering and Architecture
Precinct. The ambition is to locate all six schools of engineering and architecture,
currently dispersed across eleven buildings on campus, in a co-located area. The
area around the existing Engineering and Materials Sciences building has been
identified as the most appropriate location for the consolidated precinct.
The medium- to long-term objective is to establish a consolidated Engineering and
Architecture Precinct, providing state-of-the-art facilities for activities at a central
location which are future-proofed for growth. This will help to instil collaboration
across disciplines whilst improving operational efficiencies, decanting some
schools from buildings such as at Richview, which are old building stock, adapted
from other uses and increasingly deemed unfit-for-purpose.
It is anticipated that the total requirements for this precinct will be c. 22,000 sq m. It
is proposed the precinct will consist of:
The 8,000 sq m Centre for Creative Design
An extension, of up to 5,000 sq m, and refurbishments of the existing
Engineering and Materials Science Centre
New building(s) of around 9,000 sq m in total16 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions Education, Research and Innovation Character Area - Priority Development Areas 1. Science Precinct 2. Newman Joyce Precinct 3. Health and Agriculture Precinct 4. Engineering and Architecture Precinct 5. Business and Law Precinct
17 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Commuting
Commuting to and from campus, in particular the use of private motor vehicles,
places a huge strain on the physical infrastructure of the campus, as well as
pressure on both staff and students. Dublin’s continuing economic success has
priced most out of the housing market – both owner and renter occupied – resulting
in many having to travel long distances across Dublin and from surrounding areas.
Approximately 25% of journeys to and from campus are by private motor vehicle,
with 45% of those undertaking journeys of greater than 10 km to reach campus.
The average journey time commuting to the campus is 35 to 40 minutes.
Some 14% of the Belfield Campus’ surface area is taken up by parking and road
infrastructure. Conversely, there are currently only 3,000 on-campus student rooms
(although planning consent has been granted to grow this to over 5,000, including
supporting facilities, over the coming years).
The University acknowledges these issues. As a result it has prepared the UCD
Travel Plan 2016-2021-2026 entitled ‘Getting there the Sustainable Way’. The
travel plan is guided by three overarching principles:
- Promoting sustainable travel options;
- Encouraging activity, health and wellbeing; and
- Developing an accessible, attractive and welcoming campus.
Below some of the key existing and proposed public transport initiatives that impact
on commuting to and from the campus are highlighted. For further details please
see Appendix A – UCD Travel Plan 2016-2021-2026 –‘Getting there the
Sustainable Way’.18 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Travel Options and Services for UCD Belfield19 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Rail
UCD’s Belfield Campus is located equidistant from two of Dublin’s north-south rail
routes. To the west is one of Dublin’s light railway, or Luas, lines (from St
Stephen’s Green to the north to Brides Glen in the south). To the east is the Dublin
Area Rapid Transit, or DART, line running from Greystones in the south to the city
centre and beyond in the north.
The nearest stations on each, Windy Arbour and Milltown on the Luas and
Booterstown and Sydney Parade on the DART, are all approximately 20 minutes’
walk away (or an eight minute cycle). Perceptually, for many, this is seen as too
great a walking commute to be done regularly throughout all seasons.
Road
The campus is reasonably well-served by bus routes – particularly running north-
south along the R138. However, as a major commuter route into the city centre,
the R138 is often congested, hindering the frequency and reliability of the service.
Bus Connects, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, is proposed by the National
Transport Authority (NTA) along three strategic transport corridors as a solution to
improving public bus transportation in Dublin. One of these is proposed to use the
R138, with its southern terminus located at the main entrance to UCD (although
the route may be extended further south in the future).
BRT is a high-quality bus system that looks to replicate the qualities of service of a
light rail system but at a fraction of the cost on conventional, albeit updated, road
infrastructure. The frequency of service is increased with optimally-spaced stops
and improved alighting and boarding times using modern, multi-accessed vehicles.
BRT vehicles use dedicated or shared public transport road lanes and are given
priority at traffic signals.
BRT is embedded in the NTA’s ‘Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area
2016-2035’. The BRT proposal went to initial public consultation in 2014. The
project is currently in planning and design work, with a further round of public
consultation planned once a final proposed scheme is confirmed.
Whilst the University’s desire is to reduce reliance on journeys to and from campus
using the private motor car, it accepts that this mode of transport will still need to
be an option for some in the future. Currently there are circa 3,600 parking spaces
on campus. At peak times availability is limited and, based on the sustainability
principles established within the travel plan, there are no plans to significantly
increase parking space numbers in the future. Currently the University has
implemented traffic calming cells which are imposed at peak times to restrict
vehicular permeability across campus (thereby negating potential rat runs),
enhancing safety and the pedestrian friendliness of the campus. Other solutions,
such as encouraging car sharing, flexible-use car pools and electric vehicle
charging points, are all embedded in the travel plan to help alleviate the burden on
commuting and car parking.
To the south of the Belfield Campus a proposed road route reservation has been
set aside as part of the Dublin Eastern Bypass. This route reservation starts in20 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Booterstown to the east of the campus and, as it travels east and slightly south,
takes in a zone between NovaUCD and Foster’s Avenue, running alongside, and
within the curtilage of, the campus boundary. It connects to the M50 Motorway in
the west, adjacent to the Sandyford Industrial Estate.
Please see Appendix B – National Transport Authority: ‘Transport Strategy for the
Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035’ for more details.
Walking and cycling
Both walking and cycling are enshrined as healthy alternatives in the UCD Travel
Plan. Currently over 7,000 cycle journeys and 20,000 two-way pedestrian
movements are recorded in and out of campus each day, and there are 4,100
secure bike parking spaces on campus. Once on campus, large areas are either
pedestrian only, or pedestrian-friendly environments. A further eight km of
attractive woodland walks line the campus’ perimeter to support and promote
active lifestyles and wellbeing.
For these modes of transport to increase significantly in the future, issues such as
safety and security will need to be addressed, particularly on the R138 and at the
entrance junctions in campus. Once on campus, improved permeability and
minimising potential interfaces with vehicular traffic become equally important.21 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Current Services Provision
A purpose-designed, accessible services duct was provided for the campus at the
time of the original Wejchert masterplan development. This connects the Energy
Centre (also constructed at this time and located to the north-west of the Sports
Centre) with the services route running underneath the central pedestrian spine,
connecting all the buildings along this route and terminating at the Sutherland
School of Law. This duct houses a district heating system and non-potable
whitewater distribution (for cooling, toilet flushing and cleaning).
Natural gas is the main energy source for heating and hot water requirements on
campus. Heat is generated at the Energy Centre and localised at individual
buildings, where appropriate.
Electricity supply is a combination of an Electricity Supply Board (ESB) 10kv
connection and on-site production through combined heat and power (CHP)
engines.
Potable water is delivered to campus, to the pump house located close to the
Veterinary Hospital, through the Irish Water network. From here, it is pumped to
the water tower and distributed via gravity across the campus.
The campus is served by an extensive underground gravity -operating foul sewer
network. The main outfall to the network from campus is located within the
Entrance Precinct, about 200 m north-west of the main entrance off Stillorgan
Road. Surface water also uses a similar system and network to foul water, with the
main outfall to the network again close to the campus entrance.
Communications and IT infrastructure is primarily routed into campus from two
locations, the Greenfield Gate and Roebuck Castle entrances. The campus has
two main IT hubs, located in the Computer Centre and the Daedalus Building.
For further details on existing services, including drawings showing existing service
networks, please see Appendix C – Existing Services Information.
In the Brief section some specifics on services related to the Entrance Precinct
Masterplan and Centre for Creative Design are drawn out.22 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The Brief
The project is in two parts: an Entrance Precinct Masterplan and the Centre for
Creative Design building. This Competition Conditions brief describes both parts of
the project below.
It should be noted that the brief, and related outline area schedules and spatial,
design and technical requirements, are provided for guidance only. They are non-
prescriptive and non-exhaustive. The University is looking to your skills in
intellectual analysis to review the outline requirements presented in this document
and set out a vision for Future Campus: a masterplan that delivers the University a
flexible framework for future development and a building design that embodies
both high design quality and functionality.
Entrance Precinct Masterplan
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan covers an area of 23.8 ha, within which the
University believes that there is the potential to accommodate up to 335,000 sq m
of new development (representing a footprint of circa 67,000 sq m).
The masterplan should provide a strong urban design vision and framework that
foregrounds a highly-visible and welcoming entrance experience and, overall,
combines placemaking with a stronger physical presence and identity for the
University, while also strengthening links between the campus and the surrounding
city. It should be highly-visible, communicating the University’s intent as an
internationally-minded, dynamic and creative place of learning. It should provide a
highly-attractive environment (day and night, season to season) that promotes a
strong sense of community and sociability and inspires students and faculty,
visitors and local innovators to explore new ways of learning and thinking.
An inviting arrival experience is essential to showcase the expansive green
campus and this needs to reflect the University’s long-term ambition to concentrate
the core estate, ensuring an appropriate pedestrian proximity between key
academic buildings. Wayfinding and circulation on and off campus need to be both
intuitive and coordinated, embracing the ideals of Wejchert’s strong pedestrian
spine in a 21st-century form. The opportunity exists within this project to enhance
the quality of the arrival experience starting from outside the campus boundary,
ensuring strong integration with the local area and surrounding transport networks.
The Entrance Precinct is intended as a nexus connecting Dublin and the
University, the entrance and the campus core. Within the competition there is also
the potential to influence improvements to the public realm within the liminal zone
between city and campus, taking advantage of planned public transportation
connections and sustainable transport innovations/modes. To support the entry
and arrival experience, a further 5.35 ha of land owned by Dún Laoghaire-
Rathdown County Council adjoining the campus boundary is included within the
brief. It supports wider initiatives planned for the Greater Dublin Area.
The Strategic Campus Development Plan describes a number of character areas
within campus (see plan on page 8). The Entrance Precinct sits adjacent to, and
overlapping with, the education, research and innovation character area.23 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Within the character areas there is the potential for competitors to create sub-
areas, grouping uses that share a common theme together. This may include, for
example, an Innovation District and an Engineering and Architecture Precinct.
However, as with all successful places, the mix of uses and the interaction
between them has the potential to provide delight and a blended campus
environment.
The Centre for Creative Design
The first building to be delivered within the Entrance Precinct Masterplan is the
8,000 sq m Centre for Creative Design. With the creative knowledge economy
central to Ireland’s future economic competitiveness and attractiveness to inward
investment, the Centre for Creative Design is an important building for the
University. It should be charismatic yet well-integrated into the campus. The
building should be located within a prominent position, a landmark when viewed
from within and outside the campus, but also embedded in the fabric of the
campus.
The Centre for Creative Design is to be a living learning lab – using innovative
materials and new technologies to express its purpose as the University’s home of
design studios and laboratories, and maker, project and fabrication spaces. A
home for collaborative and creative experimentation and fabrication, the building
will contain a range of design studios, laboratories and maker spaces. Bringing
these creative workspaces together are formal and informal spaces for gathering
and engagement. The building is conceived as an exemplar of sustainability (with
an emphasis on inherently sustainable design over expensive technologies) and as
a living learning lab, a pedagogical resource as creative and experiential as the
functions it contains.
The Centre for Creative Design will represent a step-change in the quality of the
student learning experience, advanced interdisciplinary teaching and learning
methods, and engagement with professions and industry.
The Centre for Creative Design will include education, research and outreach
facilities, and will be home to the UCD Creative Skills Academy. The Academy will
bring together artists, designers, engineers, architects and technologists and
provide formal and informal opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, as well
as supporting strategic links through the creation of a Centre for the Internet of
Things.
For the spatial, design and technical requirements of the Centre for Creative
Design please see pages 48-52 of this document.24 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan
Introduction
The indicative land-use area requirements for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan
are summarised in the table below, and described in the following spatial
requirements section. The table sets out the buildings and landscape features that
are to be retained, as well as those proposed as new which need to be
appropriately integrated with the existing. The areas shown are in Gross Internal
Areas (GIA).
Please note that the designations within the area schedule and associated spatial
requirements are provided for guidance only. These are not prescriptive
requirements. Shortlisted teams are asked for their creative responses to the
project’s outline requirements, taking the below as an indicative benchmark.
Outline Area Schedule (indicative only)
Building/space Footprint Total area
(new build only)
NEW
Buildings – Academic (with a focus on ‘wet’ facilities) 20,000 100,000
new Academic (with a focus on ‘dry’ facilities) 15,000 75,000
Academic (with a focus on ‘chalk and talk’ facilities) 15,000 75,000
Innovation and outreach 9,000 45,000
Amenities/conference hall/welcome centre 5,000 25,000
Retail 2,000 10,000
Residential 1,000 5,000
SUB-TOTAL 67,000 335,000
Landscape – Green space – formal, designed landscape 50,000
new Green space – informal, ‘natural’ landscape (e.g. woodland) 20,000
Hard landscaping (e.g. plazas, paths) 20,000
Infrastructure Public transport infrastructure (e.g. stops, dedicated routes) TBC*
– new Public transport interchange / Bus Connects
n/a
Pedestrian/cycle infrastructure
Vehicular movement
Car parking
Coach/bus parking
Electrical substation
New Additional Entrance
EXISTING
Buildings – Engineering & Material Sciences Building 4,462
existing NVRL & CRID Buildings 1,831
Ardmore House 489
Belfield House & Courtyard Buildings 1,115
Merville House (NOVA) 3,427
AIB Bank Building 315
Gatehouse / Reception 30
SUB-TOTAL 11,669 n/a
Landscaping Merville House public realm & gardens 9,615
– existing Belfield House public realm & gardens 6,649
Ardmore House public realm & gardens 4,717
Belfield Woods 9,004
Merville Woods 2,689
Oak Woods 2,787
SUB-TOTAL 35,11625 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The existing buildings listed above in the outline area schedule are summarised
and located within the site section on pages 7-11 of this document.
*New infrastructure areas are dependent on the individual masterplans for each
competitor.
Note: the total area of the Entrance Precinct Masterplan is 238,000 sq m.26 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Outline Spatial Requirements
Academic
A large percentage of the potential building uses within the Entrance Precinct
Masterplan are suggested to be those that support the academic focus of the
University.
At least three types of academic buildings are anticipated within the Entrance
Precinct: those with ‘wet’ facilities, those with ‘dry’ facilities and those with ‘chalk
and talk’ facilities. Academic buildings with ‘wet’ facilities are ones which contain
service-intensive laboratories with significant piped (e.g. gas and fluid) services
and extract ventilation (e.g. fume cupboards). These types of academic buildings
are typically for chemical-based disciplines. Those with ‘dry’ facilities are those that
typically contain laboratories with containment/extract ventilation and less piped
services. These buildings are typically for engineering, electronic and/or physics
disciplines. Academic buildings with ‘chalk and talk’ facilities are those with
traditional teaching and academic office space and are typically associated with
humanities, social science and research based disciplines.
The Centre for Creative Design, at circa 8,000 sq m, is the only defined building
element of the brief (albeit its total area is provided for guidance only). Under
UCD’s definitions stated above, the Centre for Creative Design would constitute an
academic building with ‘dry’ facilities. The requirements of the potential
Engineering and Architecture Precinct may account for a total 22,000 sq m of
academic space with ‘dry’ facilities.
All the academic buildings should present themselves externally – to the wider city
– as well as connecting physically and visually with the wider University campus.
Innovation and Outreach
Dublin (and Ireland in general) has ambitions to be a leading player in the global
innovation economy. With a well-established economy in the creative, research
and innovation industries, and a young and well-educated workforce, Dublin is
well-placed to meet these ambitions, which may take the physical form of an
Innovation District, or Districts, in the city.
UCD is well placed to become a central catalyst to achieve these overarching civic
aims, and has placed innovation at the core of the Entrance Precinct Masterplan.
The outline concept is that UCD will become a global destination for the innovative
development of new ideas and concepts that enhance society and economic well-
being. The Entrance Precinct will become the location for its physical
manifestation, through a state-of-the-art innovation cluster – buildings, public realm
and infrastructure – that provides an appropriate environment for the University to
engage and collaborate with wider innovation communities.
UCD is continuing to develop its thinking in this area and it is the intention that the
competition outcomes will feed into this thinking.27 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Following the success of NovaUCD, located within Merville House (see site plan on
pages 13-14 for location), the Entrance Precinct Masterplan area includes space
for innovation and outreach. This will also include a focus on research, and in
particular within fields already successfully developed at the University.
These buildings are intended for third party users, both those companies that have
grown out of UCD and those that wish to establish closer connections with the
University. Facilities could include incubation space for start-ups, as well as
dedicated business centre space for more established organisations and for those
progressing from the University’s business incubator to its own space.
Innovation and outreach should be appropriately located within the Entrance
Precinct, bearing in mind NovaUCD’s location at Merville House and ensuring that
these facilities are fully integrated into the physical and community fabric of
campus life.
Amenities/Conference Hall/Welcome Centre
The University’s conferencing and welcome facilities are currently focused at the
centre of the core campus site at O’Reilly Hall, the University Club (once
completed) and the updated Ardmore House (the former two on the edge of the
Entrance Precinct boundary, the latter within).
As part of the Entrance Precinct there is the potential to expand the University’s
welcome facilities, an important component of the University’s commercial
aspirations. The requirements are not yet fully defined but could include amenities
such as a hotel, conference hall and welcome centre.
If a hotel is to be provided then it is intended to support the overall conference
business on campus, both within O’Reilly Hall and any additional facilities
proposed. For guidance, this may account for up to 75% of the total area assigned
to the overall amenities/conference hall/welcome centre in the schedule on page
24.
Competitors could also consider including one large and two smaller conference
halls, with associated front- and back-of-house facilities to accommodate halls that
can each cater for delegate numbers of up to 700 and 350 respectively.
The welcome centre will provide the first impression of, and interaction with, UCD
for many visitors. This could include reception and information space, indoor and
outdoor gallery/exhibition/events spaces supporting both temporary and permanent
shows, and a small retail space for UCD-focused memorabilia. There is also the
potential to display materials from UCD’s Archives and Special Collections on a
more permanent basis in a prominent location and facility on campus. The
welcome centre may account for circa 5% of the total 25,000 sq m area assigned.
These facilities should be located within close proximity to other welcome and
outreach facilities on campus, as and where appropriate.
It is important to note that the brief for amenities/conference hall/welcome centre
facilities has not been fully developed, and the University look to competitors in the
first instance to make suggestions of possible facilities that would be suitable and28 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
expected at a global Top 100 university. It is then anticipated that the winner will
help the University define and refine these requirements in the next stage.
Retail
Some limited retail, anticipated to largely serve the needs of the campus
community, could also be included as part of the Entrance Precinct. This could be
provided as standalone, pavilion type structures; as part of the ground floor level of
buildings with other predominant uses; or, perhaps ideally, a mixture of the two.
UCD operates a licencing model for retail. Although the functions of the retail units
are yet to be determined, competitors may consider the inclusion of a convenience
store within their mix of retail units. Companies with licences on campus today
include Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Chopped, and catering companies such as
Aramark. A branch of Allied Irish Bank is also located close to Ardmore House.
Retail units should have appropriate width and height for adequate shop frontages
and accommodating the technical needs of the units. Other design and technical
requirements, such as appropriateness of location and servicing the units, should
also be well-considered within the masterplan.
Residential
A small amount of residential area is included within the Entrance Precinct. This is
to be focused on student and staff accommodation, including student residences,
post-doctoral researcher accommodation and some new recruit faculty
accommodation.
Most of the (student) accommodation on campus is currently provided in its south-
western quadrant adjacent to, and accessed off, both Foster’s Avenue and
Roebuck Road. Competitors should consider the best location within the Entrance
Precinct for the residential component of the brief, as well as the appropriate
typological mix (for example en-suite study bedrooms aimed at undergraduates or
small family apartment units aimed at postgraduates and faculty, or a combination
of each).
As the focus for residential uses is located elsewhere on campus, it is anticipated
by the University that any residential uses proposed within the Entrance Precinct
Masterplan are secondary to other uses proposed, and should not conflict with the
desire to create a quality entrance and strong sense of arrival at campus.
These residential units will be owned and managed by the UCD Estate, leased to
staff and student tenants.
Landscape
At its Belfield Campus, UCD is universally acknowledged for the quality of its
landscape and woodland setting; its approach to integrating buildings, pedestrian
routes and public art in the landscape; its protection and promotion of specimen
trees; and its work in supporting and encouraging bio-diversity and ecology to
flourish within the campus.29 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Around 60% of the total Entrance Precinct Masterplan area is designated within
this outline masterplanning brief for public realm and landscape usage (including
roads and parking). Competitors should look to create a variety of (integrated)
landscapes within their masterplans. This could include, but is not limited to, areas
of high interest, amenity space for recreation and leisure, as well as areas
designated for bio-diversity and ecology. This includes a range of landscape types,
including both hard and soft landscaping (which also includes both
formal/designed, and informal/naturalised, landscapes). There are also some
landscape areas which need to be retained within the design (but could be
improved and updated, and even enlarged), and these are identified in the area
schedule on page 24.
Further design and technical requirements for the landscape design within the
Entrance Precinct are included on pages 32-33 below.
Infrastructure
A number of infrastructure elements are included within the Entrance Precinct,
largely supporting public and private transportation.
As part of the Entrance Precinct Masterplan, and to support improved access from
Stillorgan Road, an additional access point onto campus can be considered by
competitors. Although this will be subject to further consultation – and in particular
with statutory consultees the National Transport Authority and Dún Laoghaire-
Rathdown County Council – this opportunity is considered worth investigating by
the University in order to improve permeability onto and out of campus.
A new public transport interchange is proposed. This is focused on buses – and
should allow for the connection between city, regional, even national bus services.
It should also provide a smooth and seamless connection to the proposed BRT,
with its terminus proposed at the entrance of UCD (see pages 19-20 for more
details). Additional infrastructure is required for vehicles, cycles and pedestrian
movement within campus.
A large area within the masterplan is devoted to parking for both private vehicles
and coach/bus parking. Competitors should carefully consider how to
accommodate this, without impacting on the quality of the precinct’s public realm.
An existing electrical substation is located to the north-east of Belfield Woods.
Although this substation meets the current requirements of the campus, the
quantum of development proposed within the Entrance Precinct, and planned
elsewhere in campus (for example additional student residences to the south-east),
means that a new or enlarged substation is required.30 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
Outline Design and Technical Requirements
The following outline design and technical requirements have been identified for
the Entrance Precinct Masterplan, and are presented to competitors as guidance
only.
Placemaking
The quality of placemaking is one of the critical overarching requirements for the
Entrance Precinct Masterplan. Currently arrival at campus is underwhelming –
there are few clues along the campus’ boundary of the institution that lies behind,
and a dense screen of foliage hides the campus from view.
The Entrance Precinct is most users’ (students, staff and visitors) first impression
and engagement with the UCD campus. As such its townscape – the buildings and
related public realm – should be of the highest urban design quality, be compact in
nature, be appropriately coordinated and feel seamlessly integrated within the
wider campus and landscape environment.
A number of important placemaking themes have been identified for the Entrance
Precinct Masterplan, and these are described below.
Presence
The Entrance Precinct Masterplan should have significant presence, when
viewed from within and outside campus. Competitors should propose new
buildings within the masterplan area, their design concepts taking on board an
appropriate range of urban design criteria, including development capacity,
density, massing, orientation, site layout, built form and building heights.
UCD’s Strategic Campus Development Plan notes that there is potential for
locating landmark buildings, some of which may have increased height, within
the campus generally and along the Stillorgan Road in particular (encapsulated
by the Entrance Precinct Masterplan boundary area). This includes in general
considering five to ten storeys for residential development, and up to six storeys
for educational buildings (and possibly higher where appropriate). It is
envisioned that the Centre for Creative Design should have a significant
presence within the Entrance Precinct Masterplan, being highly-visible from a
range of surrounding vantage points. Competitors should consider whether
other requirements of the brief should be equally visible within the campus.
Legibility
The Entrance Precinct should be strongly legible. At the urban design scale the
layout of the public realm – including streets, squares and green spaces –
should be intuitive and memorable, presenting the user and visitor with a strong
sense of place. For example the location of building entrances should be
appropriately sited and clearly expressed on its elevation, with clear ‘fronts’ and
‘backs’ to the blocks of new buildings proposed.31 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
The masterplan area should not need to rely on complex wayfinding
mechanisms (see section on ‘wayfinding’ below). Landmarks – to give the
precinct presence – and edges and boundaries should be clearly expressed
and demarcated.
Permeability
The Entrance Precinct should provide multiple routes – both formal and
informal – through to the wider campus. These should take their cues from both
the original planning of the campus in the 1960s – as presented by the
Wejchert masterplan (largely still intact at the campus core) – as well as
considering visible desire lines within the existing site area and beyond.
However full permeability across the campus is unlikely to be desired, and
teams are encouraged to present a hierarchy, and typological mix, of routes
within their masterplans.
Permeability should also be improved from outside the campus, but with careful
consideration of safety and security issues to ensure that access points are
appropriately and securely sited, whilst maintaining a strong and clear
boundary edge.
Connectivity
Enhanced connectivity is an important aspect of the Entrance Precinct
Masterplan. This should be both within the campus itself, and in particular
making clear and distinct routes through to the campus’ pedestrian spine, as
well as providing improved connectivity from the campus to the surrounding
city. Competitors should consider the qualities of, and intent behind, the original
pedestrian spine, with its covered walkways protecting users from the vagaries
of the weather, when preparing their masterplans.
Connectivity should be considered as both physical (for example vehicular,
bicycle and pedestrian routes) and visual (for example between different
building, landscape and public realm elements). Physical routes should be well
designed, clearly defined, intuitively sited and provided with an appropriate
quality and specification of street furniture and infrastructure (for example
signage and lighting). Surrounding existing connections outside of campus, and
in particular to public transport networks, should be brought together,
highlighted and reinforced into an overall spatial network of walking and cycling
routes for this part of Dublin.
Access
Access in and out of campus is an important aspect of the Entrance Precinct.
Currently the main entrance into campus – for all transport modes – is provided at
the fly-over on the Stillorgan Road (R138). Today this entrance, whilst being poor
and underwhelming in qualitative terms, is also lacking in terms of safety and basic
functionality. Drivers arriving along the Stillorgan Road from the south, and wishing
to turn left into the campus, need to be acutely aware of cycle commuters carrying
straight on towards central Dublin. This conflict for different road users, which can
lead to indecision, has created the conditions for potential accidents to occur in this
location. Similarly those arriving on foot from the southbound carriageway (either32 Future Campus – University College Dublin: Competition Conditions
from the buses travelling south from the city centre or walking over from the DART
stations at either Sydney Parade or Booterstown) need to negotiate multiple road
crossings with long dwell times, and navigate a public realm designed for the car,
not the pedestrian.
As well as making improvements to the main access off the Stillorgan Road,
competitors may consider the potential of a second entrance into campus from this
road. This may be an alternative vehicular entrance (either in addition to the
current entrance or by splitting access needs across two entrances) or an entrance
to support other forms of commuting only (for example cycles and pedestrians). It
could also provide the main vehicular entrance into the site, with the current flyover
dedicated to public transport, cycles and pedestrians only, for example.
Note: Although an additional entrance off the Stillorgan Road onto campus can be
included within your design concept this will need to be discussed further – in both
principle and detail – with the National Transport Authority and Dún Laoghaire-
Rathdown County Council, as well as the Dublin Fire Brigade, following the
competition.
Circulation
Once on site, navigation throughout and within the campus should be clear and
intuitive. A clear delineation and separation of routes across the precinct should
provide safe circulation, regardless of mode of transport. Crossings of circulation
types should be minimised, but where needed should be clearly demarcated, with
right of way given to the slower modes of circulation (walking, bicycles, road
vehicles in that order) a priority. A hierarchy of routes should be provided, with
direct routes complemented by more meandering connections that fit with the
campus’ sylvan setting.
Wayfinding
Circulation and orientation on site, aligned with an enhanced sense of arrival,
should be supported and enhanced by a clearly UCD-branded and coherent
wayfinding strategy and infrastructure. Signage should be appropriately located
and sized, to ensure optimum functionality. The design, location and number of
wayfinding devices should be rationalised and coordinated to minimise the
potential for a multiplicity of signage needs, which leads to the potential of visual
clutter and a lack of clarity within the public realm.
Public Realm and Landscape design
The public realm and landscape within the Entrance Precinct should be of the
highest design quality. The materiality of landscape elements should be of its
place, fitting in with the heritage and landscape setting of the site whilst also
reflecting its campus function. Landscape features, such as trees, should be
carefully specified and appropriately sited within the masterplan.
Choice of materials and finishes, street furniture and lighting should be high quality
and coordinated, whilst also considering future maintenance and flexibility. Within
the landscape and public realm, some areas should be provided for purelyYou can also read
