Brookfield Health Science Complex
In 1997 UCC acquired the Brookfield House site. The site measures c. 3.5 acres and is located about 500m to the west of the main campus. On the site is a late 1800's residence which has been unoccupied for a number of years and was generally in poor repair.
The site measures c. 3.5 acres and is located about 500m to the west of the main campus. On the site is a late 1800's residence which has been unoccupied for a number of years and is generally in poor repair. The site is characterised by attractive mature landscape particularly around the perimeter. The site also includes a 10m strip to accommodate a pedestrian link to the IT Building site (former Greyhound Track) site on the north bank of the River Lee (South Channel).
The development included:
- Nursing School
- Medical School
- Therapies School
- Crèche
The design team have created a new complex which accommodates the academic needs while conserving the original house. The house although not particularly attractive was identified through the campus Conservation Plan as a regionally significant building. Its significance arises from the uniqueness of the house which was built using techniques more commonly found in industrial building of the time. The previous occupants, the Jennings family had fear of flooding, fire and break in. The house is of very robust construction (steel doors, safes etc.), has large brick-lined tanks at attic level and had an area for a boat at roof level. Significant elements of the original perimeter landscape have also been accommodated in the development. The house forms the ordering device for the complex. The Nursing building and library are to the west, the Medical School to the south and Therapies to the east. The restaurant is tucked into the site to the north in a single storey building allowing retention of the views of the original north fascade of the house. The project is 11,500m2 in size consisting of lecture theatres, clinical skills labs, computer labs offices, 200 seat restaurant etc. The crèche has been located to the rear of the site (security, access etc.) in a separate 480m2 two storey purpose built building.
The overall project cost was estimated at c. €44m with funding from a number of sources, i.e. Dept. of Health & Children (Nursing), HEA (Therapies), Medical Faculty (Medical School). Support for the Crèche was sought from the Dept. of Justice Equality & Law Reform.
Project Team
Delivered by the UCC Capital Projects Team
Design Team
RKD McCarthy Lynch - (Architects)
E.G. Pettit & Co. - (Mechanical and Electrical Engineers)
Arup Consulting Engineers - (Civil and Structural Engineers)
Project Management Ltd. - (Project Managers)
Bruce Shaw Partnership. - (Quantity Surveyors)
Contractor
P.J. Walls Ltd. (Main Contractor)
Mercury Engineering (Electrical Sub Contractor)
Dornan Engineering (Mechanical Sub Contractor)
Duggan Systems Ltd. (Glazing Sub Contractor)
Longworths (Zinc & Copper Cladding)
Update
Construction work commenced in June 2003. Phase I, incorporating Nursing Block, was completed and handed over for occupation in November 2004. Phase II of the project was completed in May 2005.