I am honored to be here today to perform the official opening of NUI Galway’s new Engineering Building. This new €40 million building is the largest School of Engineering in the country – my compliments to the University for making this happen. It is a great day in the history of the college and I thank your President, Dr. James Browne for inviting me to celebrate this great occasion with you.
Since its establishment in 1845, NUI Galway has continued to assert its position as one of Ireland’s foremost centres of academic excellence.
Today the University has over 17,000 students and almost 2,000 staff focused on long established teaching and research excellence across the spectrum of third level disciplines.
Furthermore NUI Galway is acknowledged internationally as a research-led University. One such area of expertise of course is the field of engineering itself. Research expertise has enabled the university to foster economically productive relationships with industry partners, both nationally and internationally. Such partnerships have also ensured that the research that is being conducted is relevant; that it supports new product development; that it supports job creation and sustainability – all very important drivers of economic growth and progress.
Over 90 countries are represented among the University’s 1,700-strong international student community. This diversity and proportion is a testament to the reputation and strength of the University’s programmes internationally.
I understand that the campus has undergone a transformation over the last decade. This involved a €400 million capital development programme. The programme has ensured the delivery of the highest standards of physical infrastructure for the college to support teaching and research activities and also to support state-of-the-art facilities for all the students and staff here.
This new Engineering Building represents the latest milestone in the University’s ongoing campus developments.
Engineering has a long and proud tradition at NUI Galway and has been part of the curriculum since the University first opened its doors as Queen's College Galway in 1849.
The College of Engineering & Informatics is, as I mentioned at the outset, the largest school of engineering in the country. It will bring together under one roof 110 staff and 1100 students, from five engineering disciplines and units which have been historically dispersed across 13 separate locations.
Beautifully complementing the River Corrib, and built to the most modern design, the campus has been equipped with the latest facilities – including state of the art lecture theatres, classrooms, research facilities and break out spaces – places where students can collaborate on projects and discuss the latest cutting edge developments in engineering that they see around them. It also has laboratories which allow students and researchers to build prototypes for testing and evaluation.
Sustainability Initiatives
Designed as a ‘living laboratory’ this Building will serve as an interactive teaching tool for students. I was interested to learn for example that live data from numerous sensors will measure the behaviour of the structure and its energy consumption, and be used as a teaching tool for structural engineering and building performance concepts.
Students will also be able to view sections of the foundation and structure which have been deliberately left exposed, so that basic concepts can be taught in a real life setting. This is a very creative and commendable way of imparting knowledge.
Green Technologies
I understand also that NUI Galway is the only University in Ireland to offer a degree in Energy Systems Engineering. The degree has a significant focus on research into environmental technologies. The Engineering Building itself has a range of such ‘green’ technologies such as large scale rainwater harvesting, a biomass boiler, grass roofs for water attenuation, heat exchangers and many other cutting-edge technologies. Areas of the building such as the plant room will be accessible to showcase to students the industrial biomass boiler and Combined Heat and Power Unit at work. It is a fine example of how NUI Galway is responding to the changing needs in today's world.
The total cost of this building project is €40 million, €22 million of which was provided by the Department of Education and Skills through the Higher Education Authority. Construction costs across the sector dropped in recent times and this enabled significant cost savings and increased value-for-money to be achieved for the Exchequer and the tax-payer – something which is to be welcomed!
Also to be welcomed is the generation of over 300 jobs during the phase of construction at a difficult time for the construction sector.
I have no doubt that the new Engineering Building will have far reaching impacts at local, national and international level and will further develop NUI Galway's reputation as a major international research centre in the field of engineering.
The development of the New Engineering Building is particularly timely, especially given the challenging period that lies ahead for the economy. I have no doubt it will help to advance national competitiveness and the continued growth of Ireland’s knowledge-based economy.
Before I finish, I would like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in bringing this project to fruition; the President and staff of the University, particularly those of the new College of Engineering and in the Buildings and Estates Office, the members of the Project Design Team and the building contractors BAM Building Ltd .
Without further ado, it is my great pleasure to officially declare NUI Galway’s new Engineering Building open.
Guím gach rath ar obair na hOllscoile.
Go raibh maith agaibh uile.