MTU celebrates topping out of new building

MTU’s Bishopstown Campus’ new Learning Resource Centre was topped out on Tuesday, and celebrations took place in the university.

The new Learning Resource Centre, due for completion in summer 2025, will provide teaching and learning space for 1,000 students and 70 staff and will expand MTU’s portfolio of programmes and services.

The new 6,660m² Learning Resource Centre will also provide enhanced options for student support, industry engagement, entrepreneurship, and research and innovation, and is part of the Department of Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science’s Higher Education Public Private Partnership programme.

MTU President, Professor Maggie Cusack said, “Today’s ceremony of the topping out of the new Learning Resource Centre marks an exciting step forward for MTU.

“When it opens next year, the LRC will be a state-of-the-art building dedicated to improving our students’ university experience.

“This new space will provide students and staff with new learning and teaching facilities and additional room to study and socialise.

“As we expand, we remain committed to sustainability and responsible growth, so we’ve ensured this building has been designed to be NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) to help us reach our climate action targets.” 

Chair of MTU’s Governing Body, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, said that the LRC building is just one of several projects currently underway at MTU, adding: “In Bishopstown, we recently opened the new MTU Arena, and are converting the old gym into lecture halls, and we are also progressing the business cases for the expansion and renovation of Blocks D and A in Bishopstown.

“This rapid expansion is helping MTU reach its strategic goal of being a truly great, globally competitive university.” 

The Learning Resource Centre is being delivered by Enbarr Partnership, comprising equity provider Macquarie Capital Group Ltd., construction contractor JJ Rhatigan & Company, and Sodexo Ireland Limited who have responsibility for facilities management.

Ger Ronayne, CEO of JJ Rhatigan & Company, added, “We are happy with progress on this Learning Resource Centre at MTU Cork and across the other five buildings within the Higher Education Bundle 1 project - we expect to have all six buildings completed by Q2 2025 as planned."