Demolition works on the east end of campus to make way for the new building is now expected to be finished by April 2021, after College originally planned to start building on the site this autumn.
The first phase of works to clear the site for the new building was completed earlier this year, with the demolition of the former Biochemistry Building and Roberts Lab.
In an email to students in September, Bursar Professor Veronica Campbell explained that Covid-19 resulted in a “temporary pause” of the demolition work, but College are now moving ahead with the second phase of the demolitions, which started in October.
These works include the demolition of the Anatomy Annexe building, extensions to the back of the Zoology building and works to services on the roadway alongside the colonnades at Hamilton, Watts and Panoz Institute in the east end of campus.
Speaking to Trinity News, a college spokesperson confirmed: “Demolition works in the site location for the E3 Learning Foundry are ongoing at present. Works are expected to complete by April 2021 and the main contract works are expected to commence subject to Board approval in June 2021.”
The Martin Naughton E3 Foundry Hub was originally announced last year, planning an extension in the Schools of Engineering, Computer Science & Statistics and Natural Sciences.
Building on the Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry Hub was expected to commence this autumn, with the work expected to take two years.
Campbell explained the project to students and staff, stating the building will be “an innovative, highly sustainable building for teaching and learning across the fields of engineering, environment and emerging technologies”.
The Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry is being designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and will “represent timeless and enduring architecture to reflect its setting between modern and classical buildings”, according to Campbell.
“The east end of campus will be renewed with extensive hard and soft landscaping, the creation of new walkways and squares, bicycle parking and places to linger.”
The new building will be named after Martin Naughton, in honour of a €25 million donation from the Irish billionaire and businessman and his wife Carmel. The donation was the single largest private philanthropic donation in the history of the Irish state.
“The Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry is an important project for Trinity, supported by philanthropy and government funding from Project Ireland 2040,” Campbell stated in an email to students and staff. “The support and patience of the College community over the next few years will be greatly appreciated as the team delivers an exciting new building for students, whilst also transforming the east end of the campus for the benefit and enjoyment of all.”
E3, which combines natural sciences, computer sciences, and engineering, is expected to provide physical space for the disciplines to collaborate on education and research in relation to global challenges such as climate change, renewable energy and water provision.
The construction of the E3 Learning Foundry, estimated to cost around €60 million, was in part paid for by a €25 million from the Naughton family, the single largest private philanthropic donation in the history of the Irish state.
An additional €15 million was made available by the Department of Education and Skills through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
