Trinity has confirmed the planned development of large new student spaces across campus. The spaces will be developed across Trinity’s various buildings, with additions being made to various facilities, which will be finalised in a shortlist within the next month. Work will then begin in order to have them prepared for students returning in September.
Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) have been working towards the development of these spaces for the past 8 months, and have collaborated with the Mac Léinn Committee, which was led by Declan Treanor and Kevin O’Kelly. The committee worked to distribute application forms to all schools and buildings within the college to outline expressions of interest in new spaces.
These spaces are intended to complement the new student zones, namely the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI), which was recently approved and will be funded by TCDSU and the School of Medicine. Over 120 square metres in additional communal space for students will now be available. There will also be a new student space developed on the third floor of the Hamilton building.
Speaking about the new student spaces, President of TCDSU Kevin Keane said: “This is excellent news for everyone in college, and particularly for students in the Hamilton, who have suffered massively from a lack of support and infrastructure in the past. The level of interest from schools right across the college shows that everyone recognises the need to make this University work for its students, first and foremost.”
He also recognised the demand for such a development and said: “On a personal level, I am delighted to announce this good news. All year, our students have been crying out for new and improved student space in college, and we have been able to provide that. Our campaigns and political activity is extremely important, but the ability of students to actually enjoy their time in Trinity is central to our work in the Union, and this is an extremely good example of that work.”
Director of the Mac Leinn Committee Declan Treanor also noted that: “The application period for Zón Mac Léinn Student Spaces is now closed and there was great interest in this initiative. Many areas expressed an interest and contacted the Dean of Students to discuss their applications. Eleven applications were received from across all areas of Trinity and this showed many had thought about spaces that can be added to the evolving Zón Mac Léinn Student Spaces already developed or under construction in the Arts Building, TBSI, D,Olier Street and the Hamilton.”
