2023
UCC opens purpose built student accommodation at the Crow’s Nest
University College Cork (UCC) today officially opens its purpose built student accommodation, Crow’s Nest.
Located at the junction of Carrigrohane Road and Victoria Cross, the €35 million, 255 bed building is designed by a McCullough Mulvin Architects led design team and aims to create a landmark building at this gateway into the city. Instead of using the traditional ‘one building block’ approach, the design breaks down the massing of the scheme using vertical elements of varying height that punctuate the skyline similar to the Shandon Bells and the Old Cork Waterworks elsewhere in the city. This approach allows light through to the street below while also maintaining views through the site towards the Shanakiel Ridge.
Reception as well as student support facilities are provided at ground floor level, together with the separate UCC Health Centre accessed from Carrigrohane Road and a café unit at the corner of the site facing onto Victoria Cross. A large public open space is also proposed adjacent to the café which will create an attractive focus of activity, an attribute that is currently missing in this area of the city.
Local neighbours, UCC students, staff and dignitaries were given a tour of the 8,077sqm PBSA development today (Friday 1st September) which comprises 4 bed apartments primarily and includes 125 bicycle spaces, a dedicated study area, a music room, recreation room and 24-hour security. The “Near Zero Energy Building” (NZEB) will have a BREEAM “Excellent” rating and includes sustainability features such as heat recovery ventilation, low usage water fittings, and photovoltaic solar panels.
“The difficult challenge students face in obtaining accommodation is very clear. Universities cannot solve this situation on their own. UCC consistently offers the best rates for purpose built student accommodation in the city and in opening the Crow’s Nest today we are seeking to improve supply. UCC offers a range of accommodation at different price points and today we open student accommodation purposefully built and to a high standard” stated President of UCC, Professor John O’Halloran.
“We are pleased to officially open the Crow’s Nest student accommodation today on a site that had remained vacant and derelict for over a decade prior to UCC’s acquisition. This will breathe new life into this area of the city and I want to thank all the team and local authorities for their work and support for a beautiful addition to the streetscape of Cork city” commented Mark Poland, Director of Building & Estates at UCC.