New AIT engineering building to open in September

Deirdre Verney AIT's new €36 million Engineering and Informatics Building will finally open its doors to students next month, it's been confirmed. "We are on schedule to occupy and open the new engineering building on September 1," an AIT spokesperson told the Westmeath Independent this week, a positive development that comes after some controversy that the new state-of-art premises failed to open this time last year or following the Christmas or Easter breaks. However, the AIT spokesperson stressed there was always going to be a six or twelve month delay in opening after they missed the September, 2009 deadline due to the way college year falls. "There were also a number of snagging issues that arose and we needed to have them addressed but with a 11,000 square metre building you will have that," he said, adding the final touches to the fit-out of the premises were currently being finalised. Back in March 2008 the then Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen laid the foundation stone for the new three-storey premises, comprising of six blocks with a series of internal and external courtyards, along with classrooms, laboratories, lecture theatres and office space. Construction finished on the massive project, one that will be the envy of third-level institutes nationwide, over a year later but it had lain at a standstill since then. At present, engineering students number in excess of 800 in AIT and over the course of the next five years, it is envisaged that this will increase by more than 20% to nearly 1,000 students. In line with the national agenda to create a knowledge-based economy, the expansion in postgraduate activity - both taught and research-based - is predicted to more than double from 71 students to 155 by 2012 as a result of the facilities. The School of Engineering offers programmes in civil, construction and mineral engineering; electronics, computer and software engineering; mechanical and plastics engineering; and the engineering trades. Meanwhile, in other positive news for AIT, five companies have been short-listed by the college after expressions of interest were sought for the building of new €8 million world class indoor sports facility, encompassing an indoor athletics track, spectator seating, offices, a futsal area and wetrooms. It's expected contracts to be signed for multi-sports facility at the end of September, with the successful contractor moving on-site in March, 2011 for the twelve month build.