Trinity College, Dublin
The development will consist of an extension to existing purpose-built student accommodation at Trinity Hall to provide a total of 358 purpose-built student bed spaces together with a multipurpose hall and ancillary uses.
- Location Dartry, Dublin
- Client Trinity College Dublin
- Project 358 Bedspaces
- Scale 10,982 sqm
The Challenge
Conningham House, an existing dormitory on the Dartry Student Campus in Dublin 6, was deemed no longer fit for purpose. In response, a new redevelopment scheme was proposed, introducing significant amenities, including a multipurpose sports hall, which would integrtate thoughtfully with the existing structures.
The redevelopment aims to seamlessly blend both physically and socially with the surrounding built and natural environments, setting a new standard for student living.
The Story
Trinity College Dublin wanted to present an alternative in accommodation to the Dublin market that positively responds to rising rental costs and construction inflation.
Reddy A+U undertook a rigorous assessment of student residences typologies nationally and internationally to benchmark shared and single use accommodation. In conjunction with Trinity College, we created a new prototype of accommodation which reduced floor area and building costs whilst complying the relevant standards for student accommodation.
The Outcome
Campus based student accommodation in Dartry ranges from dependent to independent living and this creates its own needs and demands for the resident student.
The new scheme for Dartry responded to this campus context, the physical context of the adjacent park, the existing student residences and its own amenity demands by utilising the topography in a positive manner, negating the requirement for deep excavations and replacing the existing lower ground floor with active uses.
The shared living model is a very successful template for future developments of this type. The design is conscious of the need for sensitive intervention with adjoining protected structures and the surrounding residential amenity to establish an appropriate density within this enclosed suburban location. The proposed site strategy links the student amenities block and the new sports hall enhancing the existing relationships between buildings.
The forum space creates a new east-west axis through the site, linking the proposed residential courtyard with the existing plaza and pedestrian gate to the west. Outdoor amenity spaces are provided within the central courtyard together with enhanced public realm works, landscaping, bicycle parking and a single storey security hut.
