Papers of James Meenan – Move of UCD to Belfield

38 U.C.D. and the Future

of the College should first be solved before the building for future expansion is undertaken. It writes (Report, p. 38) (our italics):

'The allowance for expansion in the estimate, 100,000 sq. ft. nett, is not an immediate requirement and in so far as it may be possible to do it the erection of this 100,000 sq. ft. nett of building should be postponed until the minimum nucleus (500,000 sq. ft. nett) has first been built. Our purpose in making this suggestion is to relieve public funds of the cost of buildings not yet required . . .'

Again in its summary of conclusions (Report, p. 45):

The estimates of the College's total accommodation requirements, 610,000 sq. ft. nett, contains an allowance for expansion of 20%. The College's total immediate requirements is therefore of the order of 500,000 sq. ft. nett. So far as it may be possible these immediate requirements should be provided first . . .'

It must be remembered, of course, that these quotations refer to the building of a complete new College. If expansion takes place from the existing buildings then the immediate requirements to be provided first amount to only 340,000 sq. ft. nett, i.e. 500,000 sq. ft. nett less 160,000 sq. ft. nett of existing sound floorspace.

In order to site faculty buildings so as to allow of convenient future expansion by the estimated 20% (or somewhat more if possible), we regard it as desirable that sites adjacent to the present holdings be acquired. The Engineering school in particular must be evacuated from Merrion Street and it would be preferable to place it elsewhere than on Iveagh Gardens. Consequently we recommend the acquisition of adjacent sites between the College and the Canal as discussed full in Section V.

B. CRITICISM OF THE COMMISSION'S STANDARDS

1. USE OF THE 'RULE OF THUMB'

The 'rule of thumb' suggested by architects to the Commission, that one acre of ground space is required for the erection of any building in which the gross floor space is one acre (43,560 sq. ft.) is adopted to ensure that sufficient light and air, and enough land for approaches, dispersal, etc., be available around the building. It is not, however, an inviolable 'rule.' It is a useful guide when buying land. It is usual in reckoning the area of a city site to include in the measurement of the depth of the site the footpath and adjacent roadway to the midline. This has not been done in the areas considered above and consequently the floor areas of the buildings contemplated might be appreciably increased.

When a projected city building is to lie alongside a park or other open space (e.g. excellent wide roadways), then obviously the associated open space need not be purchased in order to provide the light, air, approaches, etc., required by current architectural practice.

Suppose, for example, the College were to acquire the houses on St. Stephen's Green, South, from the corner of Earlsfort Terrace to the Passport

U.C.D. Accommodation Needs 39

Office. The total ground space occupied by these houses is approximately 26,000 sq. ft. There is no architectural rule which would prohibit the erection on the same area of a building having a gross floor area of 104,000 sq. ft. distributed over four floors, for this is close to the floor space that exists on this site at the moment. There is no architectural rule which would prohibit the provision of still more floor space in a much higher building on this site. The necessary light, air, approaches, etc., are provided by the expanse of the Green and the surrounding roadways.

Indeed, it can be said that if skyscrapers were to be erected in Dublin, then the above and similar sites alongside our open spaces would be the sites of choice. The Commission was aware of the necessity of having open space associated with high buildings, when it wrote (Report, p. 30): 'High buildings require a considerable area of open space about them.' But it did not, in its brief dismissal (Report, p. 32) of the possibility of acquiring any property on St. Stephen's Green, South, take into account the fact that the sites of existing houses here are surrounded by open space — Iveagh Gardens at the back and the Green on the front. We will refer to this area again in Section V of this Memorandum.

2. ATTITUDE TO BUILDING HEIGHTS

In a short paragraph in Chapter I, p. 30, of the Report occur two statements of crucial importance:—

(1) 'High buildings in the Iveagh Gardens would be out of character with the existing buildings and the surrounding neighbourhood'

(2) 'High buildings are generally considered not suitable for the ordinary purposes of a University.'

The opinion of an expert is quoted as indicating that the buildings should be of 'orthodox height' and favouring 'groups of two or three-storied buildings.'

We must examine these statements in some detail for it is largely by the acceptance of these and misapplication of the 'rule of thumb' that the Commission drives itself from the Terrace/Gardens site and compels itself to declare that no solution is possible, other than the erection of a complete new college on another site.

(1) The first statement is a matter of opinion—similar opinions are always expressed whenever a 'modern' building is to be erected alongside those of earlier days. We do not agree that high buildings would be out of character with the existing buildings and most certainly, they would not be out of character with the surrounding neighbourhood. The dwelling-houses in Earlsfort Terrace (now occupied by Alexandra College) rise four storeys above a semibasement and look down on the existing College buildings, as do the dwelling-houses in Upper Earlsfort Terrace which rise four and five storeys above a semi-basement. The houses along Harcourt Street and St. Stephen's Green, South, rise at least four storeys above a basement or semi-basement, and are at least as high as the College buildings. On the east side of the Green houses rise to five and, on the north side, to even six storeys above semibasements.

We see no reason for rejecting on aesthetic or any other grounds the erection

48 U.C.D. and the Future

whole, the eleven houses (Nos. 67-70 and 72-76). Very few of these are used for business purposes (e.g. two commercial colleges); others are dwelling houses, some being let in flats. These houses include the least significant of all the houses surrounding the Green. If ever this whole block, constituting some 60% of St. Stephen's Green, South, had to be acquired by the College, we submit that the disturbance to domestic and commercial property would be slight compared with the gain to the College, whilst no disturbance to industrial or hotel property would be entailed at all.

(ii) The Commission gave some brief attention to the question of acquiring the whole of the blocks bordered by Earlsfort Terrace, Lr. Leeson Street and Adelaide Road. We consider that this was unrealistic and unnecessary for the College's needs. Much more limited acquisitions would suffice. While the Commission was sitting, Comhluch Siuicre Eireann Teo. acquired a valuable site (approx. 21,000 sq. ft.) stretching from Earlsfort Terrace to Leeson Street. This has been cleared out but not yet built upon. In the triangular block between Earlsfort Terrace, Lr. Leeson Street and Hatch Street two adjoining properties between them occupy more than half of the area-- Alexandra College, with a frontage of 470' on Earlsfort Terrace and the Sacred Heart Convent in Leeson Street. Together these properties cover an area of about 3.4 acres. The Commission might have confined its attention to the possibility of acquiring either or both of these schools, which are inadequately housed, partly in converted dwelling houses.

(iii) Regard might also be paid to the fact that when the new Elm Park hospital is built, St. Vincent's will not require all of its present holdings (approximately 2.7 acres) on St. Stephen's Green, East, and Lower Leeson Street. We understand that the intention is to maintain a private nursing home in the area, but a substantial amount of property should nevertheless be set free. The co-operation of the authorities of St. Vincent's might be sought with a view to their providing on this site the proposed 'Clinical Institute' to be run in conjunction with the Medical school if it be retained at Earlsfort Terrace. The great advantage of such a scheme would be that buildings already exist for it--whereas the Clinical Institute, suggested as a new item for the Stillorgan Road site, has not even been budgeted for.

C. LONG TERM EXPANSION

There remains one further assertion of the Commission in regard to siting, on which we desire to comment. Despite the fact that a complete new College would require only 813,300 sq. ft. gross of floor space (including the provision for 20% expansion beyond present needs) and consequently a site area of only 18.7 acres, the Commission writes as follows (Report, p.32):--

'If the extension to the canal (Block B1 and D) that we contemplated were practicable the College would have at Earlsfort Terrace a total area of about 21 acres. As already stated we entertained the possibilty of finding a solution. Later an examination of the areas of the sites of other Universities and Colleges convinced us that a proper and final solution to the accommodation needs of University College, Dublin, could not be provided for on a site of 21 acres.'

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.

64 U.C.D. and the Future

Appendix D

A LIST OF CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES, SCHOOLS AND HOSTELS IN THE GENERAL UNIVERSITY AREA*

1. Cultural, Educational and Professional Bodies

The National University of Ireland University College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin The National Gallery The National Library The National Museum Arts Council Building Centre Central Catholic Library An Comchaidreamh Dental Board Foras Eireann Gael-Linn Institute for Advanced Studies School of Celtic Studies School of Cosmic Physics School of Theoretical Physics Institute of Chemistry of Ireland Institute of Chartered Accountants Institute of Professional Civil Servants Institute of Public Administration Institute of Civil Engineers of Ireland Insurance Institute of Ireland Irish Acadamy of Dramatic Art Irish Central Library for Students Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations Irish Dental Association Irish Folklore Commission Irish Institute of Secretaries Irish Manuscripts Commission Irish Medical Association Medical Research Council Medical Research Council Laboratories National College of Art National Film Institute of Ireland Opticians' Board Royal College of Physicians Royal College of Surgeons Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Royal Irish Academy Royal Irish Academy of Music Royal Sociuety of Antiquaries

2. Schools

Alexandra College Catholic University School Diocesan Secondary School Kildare Place Schools and Church of Ireland Training College Loreto College Sacred Heart Convent Scoil Brigid The High School Wesley College

3. U.C.D. University Hostels

De La Salle Hall Dominican Hall Loreto Hall University Hall

Also within the area, or immediately outside it, lie several important teaching hospitals, and many leading booksellers and commercial firms which provide for the needs of the universities and professions in medical and scientific equipment, optical and surveying instruments, drawing-office supplies, etc.

*Neither this list, nor that in Appendix E, is exhaustive. For example, there are several well-attended private galleries in this area. Many other cultural and educational bodies also meet in the area.

Appendices 65

Appendix E

A LIST OF GOVERNMENT AND SEMI-STATE PROPERTIES IN THE AREA

St. Stephen's Green, E. 45 An Bord Uchtala 46 Dept. of Education Secondary Branch 50-51 Office of Public Works

St. Stephen's Green, S. 78-79 Passport Office 80-81 Dept. of Ext. Affairs

St. Stephen's Green, N. 14 Industrial Development Authority

Earlsfort Terrace 13-14 Office of Public Works A/Cs. Department 25-26 Roinn na Gaeltachta 30 Coras Tractala Teo. Civil Service Dining Club Special Employment Schemes Office

Harcourt Terrace 11a Garda Barracks 12-16 Film Censor's Office 21 Dept. of Agriculture Butter Testing Station

Harcourt Street 6 Dept. of Posts & Telegraphs

Hatch Street, Lower 26 Bord na Mona

Pembroke St., Upr. 28-32 Bord na Mona

Hume Street 1 Dept. of Education 10 Office of Public Works 14 Geological Survey

Ely Place, Lower 5-6 General Valuation & Boundary Survey of Ireland Office 5 Censorship of Publications Board

Merrion St., Upper 1-5 Depts. of the Taoiseach and of Finance 7-13 Dept. of Agriculture 14-16 Land Commission 21-24 Land Commission 25-29 Land Commission 31-38 Office of Comptroller and Auditor General

Merrion Square, N. 2-3 Dept. of Finance 13 Bord Failte 26 Industrial Credit Company

Merrion Square, E. 37 E.S.B. 40-43 E.S.B. 44-45 Dept. of Industry and Commerce 45 Indust. & Commercial Property Regis. Office Patent & Trade Marks Library

Merrion Square, S. 61 Land Commission 70 An Comairle Ealaion 73 Irish Manuscript Commission Department of Lands Ceimici Teo. Statute Law Revision and Consolidation Office 83 Dept. of Lands

Merrion Square, W. 88-89 Dept. of Lands (Forestry) 93 Land Commission