STAFF and students at Dublin City University have been given a sneak peek of their new multi-million state-of-the-art student centre, which is due for completion this coming August.
President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith, and outgoing Students’ Union President, Niall Behan, along with staff and students were treated to a tour of the new DCU Student Hub.
The project is part of an extensive five-year €230m Campus Development Plan.
The Student Hub project, which commenced in February 2016, will provide an additional 3,7000 sq mts of modern, purpose built space with enhanced accessibility over three storeys for students’ social, cultural, global engagement and entrepreneurial activities.
Once complete the student centre will be capable of holding over 3,500 people at maximum capacity and will cover a total of 7,000 sq mts.
Key features include two sensory meeting booths, an entrepreneurship area for student workspace, three meeting rooms and three quiet offices.
There will also be a big amphitheatre with capacity for over 450 guests and seven hi-spec meeting rooms for DCU clubs, societies and the Student Union (SU).
Also included is a dedicated student venue called ‘The Hive’ with capacity for over 500 guests, a purpose built radio station suite and five retail outlets including a bar and a convenience store.
As well as construction of the new student centre, there is also new sports facilities, additional on-campus accommodation and 21st Century digital teaching spaces.
The project is being partially funded by a long term loan and bridging finance, with the remainder being provided by philanthropic donations, Government grants, student contributions and funding from the university itself.