NUI GALWAY (NUIG) has welcomed the resumption of work on a €75 million building programme on campus, which will generate an estimated 400 jobs in construction.
The five projects include several new research buildings which were stalled last year when a receiver was appointed to Michael McNamara Co, the main contractor.
Galway-based contractor JJ Rhatigan Co has been awarded the contract to complete three research buildings. These include an arts, humanities and social sciences centre, beside the existing James Hardiman library, which aims to integrate work in the humanities, digital cultures, creative industries, business, social sciences, human rights, advocacy and public policy.
The new contractor will also work on two buildings dedicated to biomedical science research – one on campus along the river Corrib at Dangan, and one on the grounds of University Hospital, Galway. All three should be completed by late 2012/early 2013, according to the university.
The same construction company will also work on an €8 million extension to the arts millennium building, where an expanding school of psychology will be located.
Separate contractor BAM Building Ltd will extend the student branch of the Bank of Ireland in the college’s arts/science concourse.
University president Jim Browne said he was delighted “strategically important projects” were under way, bringing an immediate benefit to the local construction sector.
“Concentrating resources on biomedical science and arts, humanities and social sciences research at NUIG will have a major impact on the medical technologies and the creative arts industries in the west of Ireland,” Dr Browne said.
The university’s vice-president for capital projects Keith Warnock said the investment in “world-class facilities” for students involved spending an estimated €750,000 a week on campus development.
The university has also initiated a four-year degree programme in drama, theatre and performance studies, which will involve partnerships with the Druid Theatre Company, Galway Arts Festival and Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, the Irish language theatre.
Programme director is Patrick Lonergan, and courses will begin in September.
