Shortlist designs revealed for the UCD Entrance Precinct Masterplan
By Brían Donnelly | Jun 27 2018
A shortlist of 6 concept designs for UCD’s Entrance Precinct Masterplan and for the Centre for Creative Design have been released following an international competition that saw almost 100 teams from across 28 countries enter the first stage.The Entrance Precinct Masterplan is expected to cover an area of 23.8 ha, and with include up to 335,000 sq m for new development. The Centre for Creative Design is the first building to be delivered within the Masterplan. Its goal is to "give the University immediate physical presence and visibility, communicating its intent as an internationally-minded, dynamic and creative place of learning" by promoting a sense of community and creating an atmosphere "conductive to new ways of thinking."Addressing the "underwhelming" experience and difficulties associated with the arrival to UCD is one of the key targets of the masterplan. The entrance is currently "framed by 1960s traffic engineering, is low key, nondescript and unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclists." The masterplan intends to revitalise the entrance to prioritise wayfinding and circulation on and off campus. To do this, "a further 5.35 ha of land owned by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council adjoining the campus boundary has been included" in the brief of the masterplan.The jury, chaired by UCD President Professor Andrew J Deeks, will meet in July 2018 to interview the 6 shortlisted firms and select the winner, who, according to the competition's website, is expected to be announced in August 2018. Scott Tallon Walker previously designed UCD's O'Reilly Hall in 1994. They are part of one of six shortlisted teams who have submitted designs for the Entrance Precinct Masterplan. (Video: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Scott Tallon Walker)
The competition for design of the Entrance Precinct Masterplan and the Centre for Creative Design was a two-stage process, beginning with the international competition and followed by the six selected teams visiting the site and producing their designs.Each finalist team will receive a payment of €40,000 at the end of the competition.[caption id="attachment_48634" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
UNStudio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_48635" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
John Ronan Architects[/caption][caption id="attachment_48636" align="alignnone" width="600"]
Steven Holl Architects[/caption][caption id="attachment_48637" align="alignnone" width="600"]
O'Donnell + Tuomey[/caption][caption id="attachment_48638" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Studio Libeskind[/caption][caption id="attachment_48639" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Diller Scofidio + Renfro[/caption] The total project value for the Centre for Creative Design is estimated to be €48 million. The contract is expected to commence in autumn 2018, with anticipated completion by autumn 2021. More information on Future Campus is available on the competition's website.