Plans are progressing for a new state of the building for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths courses at the city campus of GMIT.
The proposed 5,500 square metre building is to be located on the eastern side of the GMIT Galway campus facing the Ballybane Road.
When constructed it will accommodate classrooms, laboratories, meeting rooms, research labs, seminar rooms, offices and lecture theatres.
A planning application has been made for the new building which has been earmarked for funding under the Higher Education Public Private Partnership programme.
Cormac MacDonncha, Chairman of GMIT Governing Body says that lodging the planning application is a milestone moment in the history of the project.
“I would like to thank all involved across GMIT, the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Skills, the National Development Finance Agency and the design team for their work in bringing this important project to this point.”
“I’m looking forward to the day we will open this state-of-the-art university-standard facility which will serve GMIT’s STEM students for years to come.”
Dr Michael Hannon, Acting President of GMIT said that the new building will greatly help their progress towards becoming designated as a Technical University.
“Our numbers studying STEM programmes have increased rapidly in recent years and this high-quality infrastructure equipped with the latest technology and innovative and flexible approaches to teaching and learning will greatly enhance our students’ learning experience.”
The design team for the project is being led by the west of Ireland based Taylor McCarney Architects.
Dr Des Foley, Head of the School of Science and Computing said that they spent a lot of time working with the design team on an innovative edge for the plans.
On top of making sure that undergraduate students have the best that is currently available, they tried looking to the future to areas such as augmented reality and cell biology.
David Lee, Buildings & Estates Manager said that when this project is completed it will provide much needed space for their current students, as well as helping to attract new ones.
