Athlone STEM building due to open ‘in September 2025’
The new state-of-the-art STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) building on the Athlone campus of the Technological University of the Shannon is due to open its doors to students next September.
An update on the progess of the ambitious building project, along with the projected opening date, has been shared on social media by the university.
TUS Athlone stated that the new STEM building underscores its commitment to “innovation, education and industry partnerships” and would create “incredible opportunities” for students, staff and researchers to “connect, collaborate and excel” in their respective fields.
The social media post also extended thanks to everyone involved in bringing “this vision to life” and added that their work will pave the way for “a brighter future” in STEM education and research.
The construction of the new building as part of the Athlone TUS campus was mooted as far back as late 2017, when funding was announced for the project. The building was one of six to be delivered across the county by a Public Private Partnership (PPP), with an overall price tag of approximately €250 million, ex-VAT.
A planning application for the three-storey STEM building, with a floor area of over 65,000 square feet, was lodged with Westmeath County Council in 2019.
The new building is designed to cater for some 800 students but will free up space elsewhere on campus to allow an overall intake of over 1,300 extra students.
The contract was awarded to the Enbarr Partnership, comprising Macquarie Capital Group Ltd. (equity provider), JJ Rhatigan & Company (construction contractor) and Sodexo (facilities management), with funding being provided by AIB, Bank of Ireland, Nord/LB, Korea Development Bank and Norinchukin Bank.
As with other PPP projects in the education sector, the contract type is design, build, finance and maintain.
The Enbarr Partnership is constructing the buildings, using private finance, and will then operate and maintain the buildings for a 25-year period.
Payment by the Department will be by way of monthly unitary charge over the 25 year operational period, which is scheduled to commence once construction has been completed.