Contracts signed for €20m landmark WIT facility

CONTRACTS have just been signed for a landmark €20 million building to accommodate staff and students working in languages, sports science and tourism/hospitality at Waterford Institute of Technology’s Cork Road campus.

The 7,700-sq m (82,882-sq ft) building will occupy a prominent site at the western end of the campus and provide a counterpoint to the E.T.S. Walton Information & Communications Technology building, the Luke Wadding Library and the health sciences building at the city end.

Prof Kieran R Byrne, director, Waterford Institute of Technology said it was a landmark day for the college.

“This latest addition to our suite of buildings will allow us further develop our work in preparing first-class professionals skilled in the languages and sports science disciplines that have flourished here in recent years and are of growing global socio-economic value.

“Also central to the building will be the tourism, hospitality and leisure sector which is of vital importance to the Irish economy.

“Indeed, the contribution of tourism and hospitality to the Irish economic success story can sometimes be overlooked and taken for granted. Yet, there are currently almost 240,000 people employed full- and part-time in this sector where an additional 6,000 jobs will be created annually to 2010.”

Due for completion by the end of 2007, the facility will accommodate 50 staff and 1,050 students.

The ground floor will contain public spaces and culinary teaching spaces while a languages centre will be developed on the first floor which will also have a sports science department in a self-contained block at the eastern end of the building.

The first floor atrium will be bound by classroom accommodation and offices.