The Lower House prior to works commencing.
The Lower House is the name given to the former Richmond Asylum which opened to patients in 1814 and served over 2,000 patients at its peak. It is one of the 11 protected structures on the Grangegorman site. This old building has been refurbished to be available for a variety of student uses for TU Dublin. This ambitious recovery project was completed in September 2020.
Historic Use
The refurbished Lower House building is the last remaining range of the original quadrangle complex which was built circa 1812 and opened as the Richmond Lunatic Asylum in 1815. The building was used throughout much of it’s life as a Mental Health facility and also served as a HSE Administration centre up until the 1980’s at which point it was vacated and allowed to fall into disuse. Three of the four of the ranges were demolished in the 1980’s also due to the serious degeneration of the building. Some stabilisation works (wall bracing and part roofing) of the remaining range was carried out in 2015 to prevent further deterioration.
In 2020 the building was fully refurbished with 2 number single storey temporary extensions added along the north elevation.
Location
South east corner of campus west of Grangegorman Lower, to the south of the East Quad/Broadstone Walk.
Adjacencies
Grangegorman residential properties along Grangegorman Lower backing onto the site.
The East Quad to the north with the Educate Together temporary schools buildings immediately to the south.
Size
The overall floor area will be circa 4,200 M2.
Current Use
Prior to development building was derelict and in state of complete disrepair.
Final Masterplan Use
Teaching/Canteen Facilities, Offices and Social Areas.
Description of New Facilities
Dance Studio, Production Kitchen, Canteen, Music Practice Rooms, Fitness Rooms, Student Union and TU Dublin Office Space.
Design team and contractor/s involved
Architects – Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Partners
Quantity Surveyors – Brendan Merry & Partners
Mechanical & Electrical – OCSC
Civil & Structural – OCSC
Fire Consultants – Jeremy Gardiner & Associates
PSDP – Atkins
Contractor – Purcell Construction Ltd.
End-user
Technological University Dublin
