Trinity Business School

Project Overview
The new Trinity Business School building supports activities of the TCD School of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The state-of-the-art building, located on campus in Dublin city, is approximately 12,000m² over 7 storeys and houses lecture theatres, teaching space, offices and study space, ‘smart’ classrooms with the latest digital technology and a rooftop conference room.

Entrances to the new Business School from Pearse Street and the campus are at ground floor level and give access to a triangular atrium space which provides break-out space and an exhibition area, access to the upper level of the 600-seater auditorium and informal meeting and gathering space.

Stairs and passenger lifts give access to all lower and upper floors. A 200-seater restaurant/ catering facility is provided within the ground floor space of the Period Buildings along Pearse Street and in the ground floor section of the new building adjacent.

A feature helical staircase within the atrium gives access to the upper basement level where the lower level of the main auditorium and the undergraduate 200 seat raked auditorium are located.

Collaborative Relationships
The collaborative approach taken from the outset was key to this project’s delivery and reflects the mutual respect and trust we enjoy with our client, Trinity College Dublin, our project design partners, subcontractors and suppliers, together with Dublin City Council, city transport authorities and Irish Rail. As a BIM level 2 project, JJ Rhatigan led the process from the outset, co-ordinating, communicating and sharing knowledge across all aspects of the build with our client, design partners, subcontractors and supply chain.

Construction Excellence
The city centre location was a significant challenge and demanded a ‘Just in Time’ approach to all materials and equipment delivered on site. From the installation of 12-ton beams within the 600-seater auditorium, involving meticulous traffic management, to the precision engineering required to fit the multi-storey helical staircase, all construction was carried out with relatively little disruption to the day-to-day campus life of Trinity College Dublin.

Protected Structures
As a registered Heritage Contractor, we managed and delivered the specialist conservation and restoration skills required to breathe new life into the protected buildings of the original streetscape.

A significant civic benefit of the project is the restoration and reuse of six three-storey terraced buildings on Pearse Street, dating from around 1825. In the new scheme these buildings at ground floor will be opened up for a cafe. Student accommodation will be located on the first and second floors encompassing six apartments each with four bedrooms, three singles and one double.

Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of the new building and key design features include low energy ventilation systems, motion and time-controlled LED-based lighting and rainwater harvesting. Some 500sq m of photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof contribute to the electrical provision of the building and offsetting 35 tonnes of carbon per annum. Water for toilets are provided by recycled rainwater.

A 70m² living wall is located on Pearse Street and comprises of seven different species of plants carefully selected to suit its north-eastern aspect. The Business School’s southern aspect is equally environmentally friendly and green due to the installation of a very large Brise Soleil. These planted horizontal brise-soleil screens reduce heat gain within the atrium space of the building by deflecting sunlight.

Culture of learning
With over 200 construction workers on site at the peak of construction, our site became a centre of learning for our young graduate engineers who have benefited from the experienced, senior members of our team.

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