Trinity College has finalised major redevelopment plans for the Pearse Street side of its campus, which will improve access to the college and to enhance the streetscape along Pearse Street.
Plans involve the development of a new public space, to be know as North Gate Square, fronting onto Pearse Street providing gated access to the main college campus.
The major development plan is the outcome of an international architectural competition held in 2002, the first phase of which, involving student residences on Pearse Street and changes to Luce Hall, was granted permission by an Bord Pleanála in May 2004.
The current planning application is for the implementation of the college's Pearse Street development plan, which is intended to connect the campus with Pearse Street and the city centre to the north of the campus. As well as providing new teaching buildings on the college side, the plan incorporates the existing Georgian houses facing onto Pearse Street. The majority of these will be upgraded and converted for use as student housing at upper levels, with new shops and student society and social rooms facing onto Pearse Street at ground-floor level.
The scheme, however, will involve the demolition of numbers 183 to 187 Pearse Street, which are all protected structures. The Victorian shopfronts of these buildings will be relocated to ground floor facades of numbers 194 to 198 and will form frontage for new retail units.
New student facilities including 59 student study/bedrooms and 14 kitchen/livingroom units will be provided at 188 to 201 Pearse Street.
New educational buildings and a new concourse will also be provided. Two six-storey buildings to the rear of 188 to 199 Pearse Street will be constructed and a third six-storey education building will be built adjoining Luce Hall. A 1970s three-storey administration building, seven student residence buildings and the early 1900s civil engineering building to the north of the rugby pitch will also be demolished.
