Papers of James Meenan – Move of UCD to Belfield

[left page] 46 [heading] U.C.D. and the Future

(f) Six old houses, Nos. 16-21 Charlemont Place, average P.L.V. approx. £23. (Four of these are described as 'Tenements' in Thom's Directory, 1957).

(g) The roadway and paths of Peter's Place itself.

We submit that the disturbance to home and business premises in this area would be minimal. Only nine houses with a total P.L.V. of £227 are involved. The few businesses are of a kind that can readily be accommodated elsewhere.

Until reasonable offers to purchase have been made, it cannot be said that 'compulsary purchase' will be at all necessary. And in any event, should such interests be given priority over the needs of the University?

The cost of acquiring these 4.5 acres should be considerably less than the cost of acquiring block D as considered by the Commission which contemplated the immediate acquisition of the houses on Adelaide Road and Harcourt Terrace.

The remaining property along the Canal stretching towards Charlemont Bridge, to the west of the site of the former railway bridge, is in poor condition and not very valuable. The back gardens of No. 11 Harcourt Terrace also make up a considerable frontage on the Canal. This whole area would be suitable as a site for the Engineering faculty.* Further, the architectural advantages to a site of an area of open water are mannifold--if the Canal be retained.

It may be, however, that evenually the Canal here would be filled in and built on--thus providing the College with still further ground on to which to expand in the area between Charlemont Street Bridge and Leeson Street Bridge.

We note in passing that the adjoining block of property (marked 'C') extending from the former railway lines to Charlemont Street is also in poor condition, and is in fact to be acquired compulsorily by Dublin Corporation for demolition in the very near future. This would make a further 3.6 acres available. The block to the west of Charlemont Street is similarly to be acquired.

[heading]Block 'B2' -- The Harcourt Street Station Site

This block of property covering an area of 4.3 acres (not 3.3 acres as marked on the Commission's site plan -- Attachment IV, referred to above), and formerly the property of C.I.E. was sold, as one lot, but public autcion on 12th June last for a sum of £67,500. It was bought by a firm of estate agents

[line]

* It is a matter of historical interest that, in fact, the Engineering school of the Royal College of Science was originally located on this area, on the site bordering the Canal to the east of Harcourt Terrace, subsequently occupied by the Turraun Peat Works, and at present occupied by the Department of Agriculture's Butter Testing Station, a Garda barracks and the Film Censor's office. It was only after the engineering workshops had been destroyed by fire that they were moved to Merrion Street. [end of left page] [right page] [heading]A Study of Adjacent Sites 47

and may be resold to a suitable bidder. Several parties are said to be interested in its aquisition. Full details of this property and its leases are given in Appendix F to this Memorandum. We will content ourselves here with pointing out that the leases of all the essential sections will have expired at latest by 1970, i.e. by the time the College could have fully developed the Iveagh Gardens and Earlsfort Terrace sites. The area occupied by the Station proper and associated open spaces amounts to 91,000 sq. ft. and immediate possesion of this available. The lease of the vaults underlying the station (approximately 80,100 sq. ft.) expires in 1968, but the tenant could surrender in 1961 (Appendix F).

The lease of Dunlops' holding (52,200 sq. ft.) expires in 1963. The lease of Autoservices' holding at Adelaide Road (21,753 sq. ft.) expires in 1970.

We do not suggest the acquisition of Autoservices' garage on the corner of the block (held on a 99-year lease) as we do not regard it as vital to the development of the area.

Some of these leases may be renewable and the small property ('Lot No. 4') in Hatch Street, is held on a 99-year lease. It is improbable that compulsory purchase would have to be invoked in order to develop the property for university use.

These two blocks--D, as discussed above, and B2, the Station block--constituting together 8.8 acres, and having in addition the amenities of the existing roadways, could be acquired by the College. Taken with Iveagh Gardens, the Terrace site and the University property on St. Stephen's Green, South, the total holding would be 23 acres--enough to satisfy, even according to the Commission's calculations, the present needs of the College, and allowance for a future 20% expansion, and some ground to spare. These properties should be secured forthwith.

[heading]Other Sites

Naturally, we also recommend the acquisition of any other property in the neighbourhood which from time to time becomes available; expecially houses in Harcourt Terrace and Adelaide Road (Block D); or in Earlsfort Terrace and Lr. Hatch Street as far as University Hall; or on the east side of Harcourt Street.

With regard to other blocks of property considered by the Commission for widespread compulsory acquisition, we comment as follows:

(i) Instead of considering the acquisition of the whole of the east side of Harcourt Street and of St. Stephen's Green, South, let us focus our attention on that part of the St. Stephen's Green, South, from the corner of Earlsfort Terrace, No. 65 to No. 87 (the Presbytery of University Church). This property presents a frontage of 735' to the Green. Of this 245' is already in University hands, 160' (Iveagh House and the Passport Office) are controlled by the Government, and 70' (Loretto Hall and the C.B.S.I. Headquarters) can be said to be under ecclesiastical control. There remains only 260' (or 35% of the block) which is privately owned. Therefore, if ever the College did require the whole of this frontage on St. Stephen's Green the only section which might need to be acquired compulsorily would be this 35% of the [end right page]

52 U.C.D. and the Future

It also assumes that the Government is unwilling to extend the lease to the College of Science Buildings in Merrion Street.

The ultimate result of this scheme would be to site the faculties in three contiguous groups as follows:

1. Engineering (with the Department of Geology) and Architecture--between the Canal and Adelaide Road.

2. Science--between Adelaide Road and Hatch Street.

3. All the remainder--on the Terrace/Gardens site.

The sites that we regard as being available without undue difficulty in these areas (as explained in Section V) extend to 4.5, 4.3 and 13 acres respectively, without the including the existing roadways. In each case the site for the faculties mentioned is more than sufficient for present needs and the 20% expansion for which the Commission has estimated.

1. Plan

Dublin Corporation as the appropriate planning authority should be requested to use its powers under the appropriate acts to reserve areas in the vicinity for future university use.

II. Retain and Regroup

1. Retain, at least for the time being, the Science Buildings in Upper Merrion Street.

2. (a) Evacuate the Engineering faculty and the department of Geology to a new site (see below).

(b) Request the Government to evacuate both the Seed Testing Laboratories of the Department of Agriculture and the State Laboratory from the Science Buildings. The former would be more happily accommodated at any of the agricultural stations of the Department or of An Foras Taluntais, whilst the latter might be sited at Glasnevin in conjunction with the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards.

The space thus set free in Merrion Street would enable the remaining Science departments, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology to meet their present needs and still leave them some room for expansion. It would be a long time before overcrowding again became so bad as to force the removal of a further Science department.

It might be argued that such a redistribution of space in the Science Buildings would be wasteful, if in the long run Merrion Street had to be completely evacuated. This need not be so. Modern methods of building laboratory furniture and fittings in 'units' render such equipment flexible and readily transportable to another place.

3. Evacuate the administration from the Earlsfort Terrace block, thus providing immediately some more teaching space. Rehouse the administration in such property as could be acquired anywhere in the general area. This separation of administration need be only a temporary measure, for as indicated under 'Build' below there is sufficient space available to enable the administration to be included in new building.

Suggestions Towards a Solution 53

III. Purchase

1. The Harcourt Street Station site (4.3 acres).

2. 'The Lawn,' also the C.I.E. property south of Adelaide Road and as much of the adjoining areas as could be obtained with or without compulsory purchase. The total area that is most readily available in this block amouts to 4.5 acres (see Section V)).

3. Any other property in this general area as it becomes available. The site now belonging to Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann Teo, mentioned earlier should be considered.

Immediate action would be necessary in the case of all these properties.

IV. Build

From the point of view of the relief of overcrowding, immediate acion under this heading is also imperative.

1. Buildings for the faculty of Engineering (together with Geology) and the faculty of Architecture could be erected in the area between the Canal and Adelaide Road. It is important to realise that the erection of buildings here need not necessarily await the acquisition of the whole 4.5 acres mentioned in Section V,-- 'The Lawn' and the adjoining field are open ground on which operations might commence immediately. Provision would have to be made elsewhere for the needs of the Dental Hospital which has but lately acquired 'The Lawn'.

Long term expansion on this site would proceed by gradual acquisition of neighbouring property as it comes on the market. The total area that might eventually be acquired in this block, bounded by Adelaide Road, Harcourt Terrace, Charlemont Place and Charlemont Street, is 13.3 acres.

Those who would object to the erection of new university buildings behind the back gardens of existing houses would do well to remember that the College of Science was erected on just such a site, and operated for many years before the Georgian terrace in Merrion Street was eventually demolished to make way for the wings of the block, which now house Government offices.

2. In this 'sample scheme' the Station site would be reserved for a later phase and would eveentually provide a site for new Science buildings. Meanwhile the departments of Chemistry, Botany and Zoology would share the whole of the present Science Buildings, including the space at present occupied by the Engineering faculty, the Seed Testing Laboratory, and the State Laboratory. Geology we have sited with the Engineering faculty. Physics could either be allowed to expand on the Terrace/Gardens site, or in new premises erected on the Station site as the first of the new Science buildings.

Long term expansion from this site would first proceed by the gradual acquisition of the remaining property in the block. The total area bounded by Harcourt Street, Upper Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, and Adelaide Road is 6.9 acres. More distant expansion, if ever necessary, might extend across Earlsfort Terrace and down Hatch Street.

54 U.C.D. and the Future

3. We have indicated earlier (Section IV) that the Terrace/Gardens site can carry a total of at least 13 acres of floorspace without overcrowding and without any encroachment on the central portions of Iveagh Gardens-- i.e. a further 10 acres can be erected there in addition to the retention of the existing 3 acres of sound floorspace.

The table of estimated needs given by the Commission (Report, p. 16) tells us that the provision for the complete needs of Medicine, Arts, Law, Commerce, staff, administration, examinations, library and student facilities requires a total of 297,200 sq. ft. nett (i.e. 396,300 sq. ft. gross or approximately 9 acres), which includes provision for 20% expansion. The inclusion of the total needs of Physics (44,700 sq. ft. gross) would add another acre to this. As 3 acres of sound floorspace are already in existence, the erection of a further 7 acres will provide more than adequately for all the needs of the above faculties, administration etc., and the department of Physics, with no less than 3 acres to spare.

If the new Medical school were to be erected on the Hatch Street side of the site, it could eventually be closely associated with the new Science buildings (on the Station site) when it becomes necessary to erect them. Indeed the two sites could be physically connected by a block bridging Upper Hatch Street.

Long term expansion on this site would take the form of (i) building up the site until it carried a total of at least 13 acres of floorspace (gross), and (ii) gradual acquisition of property along Harcourt Street and on St. Stephen's Green South as it became available.

General Considerations

It should be remembered that Dublin Corporation was in the past willing to permit the closure of Upper Hatch Street under certain conditions.

We wish to emphasise that we most certainly do not consider that our suggestion is the only possible one to effect a solution of the College's accommodation needs in the city centre. In the earlier sections of this Memorandum we have indicated that various alternatives might present themselves. The final solution to be adopted would depend on such factors as the degree of co-operation by the Government, particularly in regard to its own need for new offices; the possible development of an over-all plan for a 'cultural and educational area'; the granting or continued witholding of compulsory powers; the degree of cooperation or co-ordination that might be achieved with other institutions of higher education, in particular in the fields of science and technology (including architecture). It is obvious that any one of many different solutions might be achieved without a removal to the suburbs.

SUMMARY AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

1. This Memorandum is concerned mainly with Chapter I of the Report of the Commission on Accommodation Needsof the Constituent Colleges of the National University of Ireland.

2. We agree with many of the conclusions of the Commission, but not with its view that U.C.D. should be removed from its present site.

Summary and General Conclusions 55

3. The Commission is emphatic that is has 'not been concerned with solutions which might suggest themselves if the terms of reference had sought our views upon co-ordination within the University of over a wider field.' A 'solution' on these terms is unrealistic, and we regret that the Commission interpreted its terms of reference so narrowly.

The needs of U.C.D. should be closely co-ordinated with the position in the other Colleges of the N.U.I. In Dublin, the existence, and plans for the development of, the teaching hospitals (including the Dental Hospital), the Institutes of Technology, the College of Art, the Institute for Advanced Studies, the College of Surgeons, and Trinity College should also be taken into account.

4. In Dublin we have a 'cultural anl educational complex' of unique value, on the merits of which the President, Mr. de Valera, has expressed himself. It is situated in one of the finest parts of the capital, and includes some of the institutions listed above, the National Library, Museum and Gallery, other important libraries, and the headquarters of many cultural, educational and professional bodies.

Everything possible should be done to strengthen this complex. The area should be planned as a whole. To move U.C.D. would result in grave losses to the College itself and to the city. The development of a plan for the area need not interfere with the relief of the needs of U.C.D., if expansion is undertaken around its present site.

5. A removal to Stillorgan Road would result in serious difficulties for all faculties, particularly for those engaged in professional training. These depend on facilities in the city, and substantially on part-time staff engaged in professional practice there.

6. The College provides educational and cultural services to the community other than the teaching of its full-time students, e.g. evening degree and diploma courses, extra-mural courses, public lectures and facilities for cultural bodies. If U.C.D. moves, these services will be much less accessible, and space for some of them may have to be provided in the city at extra expense and at the cost of divorcing them from the College.

7. In assessing the capital cost of the proposed move, the majority of the Commission makes no estimate of the cost of the movable furniture and equipment for the new College. We believe that this cost will be considerable and call attention to the Minority Report which says that 'the cost of the new University if it is properly equipped, will be nearer to £10 million than £5 million.' Further, the Commission's estimate makes no provision whatever or the highly important Agriculture and Veterinary Faculties.

The Commission does not refer to the considerable increase in running costs which will result from the proposed substantial expansion of the College.

Unless the total cost of the proposals, the increased running costs, and the cost of other plans for expanding higher education are assessed in advance, some of these projects may not be carried to completion. It would be tragic if this happened after part of U.C.D. had moved to Stillorgan Road.

The total cost of all current proposals is so great that expansion should

58 U.C.D. and the Future

on the old houses at Stillorgan Road amounted to 'about £150,000' (Brochure p. 20). The work was carried out notwithstanding the Government Commission's recommendation to the contrary (Report pp. 43 & 45). What a pity that this money was not spent towards a permanent solution on the present site. Meanwhile, the Harcourt Street Station site (4.3 acres) changed hands for £67,5000.

Other significant developments since June, 1958.

A number of other events of significance have occurred since the Commission made its recommendation in respect of U.C.D. in June, 1958. In our view these strengthened the case against the Stillorgan project. The majority of these events have been dealt with already, but for convenience we list them below:--

1. The agreement reached by the College with the St. Laurence Hospital group raises the total number of 'affiliated' general hospital beds on the north side of the city to near 800, in contrast to the 190 affiliated beds on the south side. We understand that there may be some difficulty in implementing this agreement to the full, but this does not alter the relative numbers of beds available to U.C.D. students on the north and south sides. This situation, together with the abandonment of the Clinical Institute and the considerable doubt that appears to exist in regard to the erection of a new hospital at Elm Park, makes the idea of a Medical school on the Stillorgan Road a very dubious one.

2. Several other city hospitals have decided to expand on our near their present sites within the central city area, e.g. the Coombe Hospital, the Dental Hospital, the St. Laurence group and the Mater Hospital. Further, we understand that there is thought to be a need for a second dental hospital in Dublin that one is being planned in conjunction with the Mater extension.

3. In the case of Veterinary education it has been agreed that the two schools (U.C.D. and Trinity) shall share the same buildings and equipment provided by the Government.

4. Plans for the development of the Institutes of Technology are proceeding and it has been announced that they may be granted powers of conferring diplomas with the status of university degrees.

5. The demand for a university college at Limerick is growing.

6. Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann has acquired and cleared a very useful site with a frontage on Earlsfort Terrace.

7. 'The Lawn', Peter's Place, previously declared to be unsuitable for College purposes has been found suitable for the needs of the Incorporated Dental Hospital, which has purchased the site.

8. The Harcourt Street Station site and the C.I.E. property to the south of Adelaide Road have become available for development. The railway line which formerly bisected the block to the south of Adelaide Road now no longer exists, and this fact radically improves the possibilities of this area: the area from Harcourt Terrace to Charlemont Street can now be planned as a continuous whole.

9. The area between the railway viaduct and Charlemont Street is in fact to be acquired by Dublin Corporation by compulsory purchase for demolition in the near future. This could make a further 3.6 acres available. The area to the west of

Postscript 59

Charlemont Street. is also to be similarly acquired. These two areas, if both were needed by the College, would add a further 9.9 acres to the 23 acres shaded on our map.

10. It has recently been reported that a detailed study is being made of the various State departments to see what sections could be transferred to provincial centres. It has been indicated that sections of the Department of Social Welfare, of the Land Commission, and of the Department of the Gaeltacht might be moved out. A decision has already been taken to move part of the Department of Lands. This development is of significance in relation to our discussion in Section II of the possibility of utilising Government offices or their sites for university purposes.

The events that have taken place since the Commission made its recommendations on U.C.D. have so altered the position that the Commission's conclusions must be re-examined. We suggest that had these events occurred earlier their cumulative effect, together with all the other considerations indicating the necessity of retaining the College in the city centre, might well have led the Commission to decide against the projected move.

Envoi

We consider that the extent of the sites in the vicinity of the College which could be acquired without undue difficulty in the near future, and the further areas which could be obtained over a longer period, completely disposes of the argument that the College cannot possibly expand from its present site. The argument from necessity does not stand.

There remains only the question of the possible desirability of the proposed move. This is a matter of opinion, and in this regard we firmly hold to the belief that it is better for the College, the City and the community that U.C.D. remain, expand and become more fully integrated into the cultural and educational complex which we have discussed in the Memorandum.

We want to emphasise that what is at stake in the controversy which has arisen is not merely the provision of teaching space for U.C.D., but the whole future of the College, the pattern of higher education in Dublin and the fate of a most important area of our Capital. If the Belfield project is begun and not completed a most unfortunate separation of faculties would result. If the whole of the College is transferred to the new site the reasons for retaining other institutions in the central area would be weakened. Consequently the whole cultural and educational complex might disintegrate.

In this Memorandum we have drawn attention to certain facts and have put forward certain arguments, and these, we believe, merit serious consideration. If our facts are sound and our arguments valid then our case stands irrespective of whether our personal views carry any weight. We welcome discussion ad criticism of all aspects of this Memorandum, both of the technical details and of the general argument, as we consider it vital that the forthcoming decision of the Oireachtas should be made in the light of all the evidence available. Only then can all feel sure that the decision will be the right one for the College and the community. We are confident that further study and discussion will serve only to strengthen our case.

62 U.C.D and the Future

is in extra-curricular activities of societies, clubs, meetings, etc.' We may add that the same arguments apply to students of medicine, in their dissecting rooms, laboratories and hospitals, and to engineering and architectural students in their drawing offices, workshops and studios, as to the science and agricultural students.

In short, after their first year, all univsity students apart from those taking the humanities are segregated in workshops of one kind or another. And even the humanists, if they are working at their subjects, will be in their libraries and seminar rooms, equally segregated from each other and from the rest of the student body.

The fact of the matter is that any university student, if he is working at his subject is out of contact with the student body in other faculties during the working day. His contact with them is made briefly at lunch-time, and essentially in extra-curricular activities, in 'the pubs and coffee shops,' in the digs and halls of residence.

Again, the isolation which the staff of the Science Buildings are said to feel could best be overcome by the provision of adequate dining and common room facilities shared with the rest of the college staff.

If the Commission's recommendation to spread the proposed college more loosely over the whole of the 250 acre site at Stillorgan Road were to be followed, this isolation of the different faculties would be much greater than at present.

Appendix C

A NOTE ON ALTERNATE USES FOR THE STILLORGAN ROAD ESTATES

If it were decided to maintain U.C.D. on its present and adjacent sites the question arises of what to do with the estates on the Stillorgan Road, apart from the land at present in use as playing fields and required for their extension.

Several projects spring to mind:

1. The erection of student (and staff) halls of residence, recreation rooms, etc. after the model of the Cite Universitaire of Paris. The student body would thus be living adjacent to the sports fields, swimming pools etc., surely a better solution than having these amenities outside the classroom windows. (Some lesser recreational facilities might be retained on the city site, e.g. the tennis courts at present provided in Iveagh Gardens and, say, a small gymnasium).

2. Some of the inadequately housed and overcrowded schools in the city area might be offered sites at Stillorgan Road. The removal of some of these schools to the suburbs would benefit both them and the College by leaving property available in areas adjacent to Earlsfort Terrace. If for example, Alexandra College, the Sacred Heart Convent, Loreto College, or the High School were to vacate their sites their acquisition would enormously benefit U.C.D. in its programme of expansion.

3. Some Government offices might be transferred to new buildings on the

Appendices 63

Stillorgan Road site. A move in this direction has, in fact, already taken place as a result of the Government's decision to locate a central Radio and Television Authority on the 'Montrose' estate, thus removing Radio Eireann from the G.P.O. Buildings.

4. It is to be noted that, because of pressure in the city centre—in particular traffic and parking problems—there is a growing tendency, favoured by Dublin Corporation, for industrial and commercial concerns to move out of town and that the Stillorgan Road is a district of choice. We may mention in this regard the recent move of Esso Ltd. to this area.

Further, the open land immediately adjoining the College estates on the west (and southwest) is gradually being encroached upon by industry. Indeed the College's Architectural Advisory Board is concerned by this matter (Report, Chapter 1, Appendix IV) and recommends that 'Consideration should be given to the acquisition of additional lands adjoining Byrne's Fields as a safeguard against unsuitable future developments and incidentally to eliminate an inconvenient enclave.'

Considering all the above points it is obvious that there would be little difficulty in finding alternative use for any land surplus to the College's requirements for playing fields, student amenities and halls of residence in this area. In fact a handsome profit might yet accrue to the College by the development of any such surplus.