College has officially announced that the former Science Gallery space will be used to house Trinity’s first dedicated student centre.
The long-awaited student space will be located on the ground and first floors of the Naughton Institute, next to the Pearse Street entrance of campus.
The space will hold multiple social spaces, multipurpose breakout spaces, alongside other rooms for student use.
The announcement follows discussions between Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President Jenny Maguire, Bursar Eleanor Denny, Dean of Students Richie Porter, and Central Societies’ Committee (CSC) Chair Faith Olopade.
Negotiations for a Student Centre began in 2017, when students voted in favour of financially supporting its development,
Consequently, a student levy of €30 towards the Student Centre has been collected since the 2019/2020 academic year – and will be collected for a projected 22 years – to fund the development of the Centre.
The Naughton Institute is the former location of Science Gallery Dublin, which closed in February of 2022, and has been vacant since.
The decision to locate the Student Centre in the pre-existing site takes College’s sustainability agenda into consideration.
In an email issued by the College board today, it was noted that “the re-use of the space aligns with Trinity’s sustainability agenda regarding campus development.”
”Re-using the former Science Gallery space reduces the need for a new building, thereby saving on construction costs and carbon emissions, while giving our students the additional space they need and deserve.”
Development of the Student Centre will begin shortly, with projected opening in 2026.
