PROJECT
Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT)-Higher Education PPP
Higher Education PPP Bundle 1 Project: Delivering State-of-the-Art Learning Environments
COADY Architects is proud to announce the successful completion of our Technical Advisor role on the Higher Education PPP Programme (Bundle 1), a landmark initiative that has delivered six new higher education facilities.
As design team lead and technical advisor to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), COADY Architects, in collaboration with our partner architectural practices FCBS and BDP, has overseen the design and construction monitoring of these pivotal projects.
CATEGORY
Education
CLIENT
Higher Education Authority and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
SERVICES
Lead Consultancy and Full Architectural Design Service up to Tender Stage with Technical Advisory role from Tender Dialogue Stage to Project Completion.
VALUE
Private
STATUS
Completed 2025
Project Overview
This ambitious programme has introduced approximately 38,060 m² of additional, flexible learning and resource spaces, accommodating over 5,000 additional students. These facilities are designed to support modern pedagogical approaches, including hybrid and remote learning, ensuring that Irish higher education institutions remain at the forefront of innovation.
The completed projects span five technological universities, each benefiting from purpose-built facilities tailored to their specific needs:
- TU Dublin Tallaght Campus (Lead Architect – COADY Architect): 5,200 m² Culinary Arts, Engineering & Teaching Building which includes practice-based learning spaces for engineering and science courses, culinary arts facilities, new classrooms, and computer
- TU Dublin Blanchardstown Campus (Lead Architect – BDP): 4,000 m² General Teaching Building which expands general teaching facilities to support growth in student numbers across various disciplines and includes classrooms, learning resource space, and administration
- Munster Technological University (MTU) (Lead Architect – FCBS): Significant developments at the Cork Campus, including a 6,800 m² Learning Resource Centre focused on fostering diverse learning, study, exhibition, and entrepreneurial activities. A new STEM Building of approximately 9,000 m² has also been completed at the Tralee (Kerry) Campus.
- Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone Campus (Lead Architect – COADY Architect): A cutting- edge 6,025 m² STEM Building featuring 21 laboratories, a modern lecture theatre, ICT rooms, and collaborative.
- Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) Dún Laoghaire (Lead Architect – BDP): A 7,300 m² Digital Media Building designed to house animation and visual design communications labs, with futureproofing for growth in creative computing, entrepreneurship, and creative
Focus on STEM and Future-Ready Learning:
In addition to highly flexible general learning spaces, these projects provide specialised teaching and laboratory facilities crucial for STEM, ICT, Engineering, Life Sciences, Culinary Arts, Digital Media, and Agri-Tech faculties. The new infrastructure significantly expands student capacity, modernises teaching environments, and brings labs, studios, and workshops to regions across the country, directly supporting practice- based learning and adaptability for evolving educational requirements.
A Commitment to Excellence:
Delivered under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme by the Enbarr Partnership and procured by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority, these projects exemplify efficient and effective public-private collaboration.
The completion of these facilities, with all to be operational for September 2025, marks a significant milestone in Project Ireland 2040. This investment in education underscores its central role in building a strong, future-proofed economy and a just society, empowering the next generation of learners and innovators.
