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Self Guided Grangegorman Site Tour

The Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) is a statutory agency established in 2006 by the Irish Government under the Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 with the goal of redeveloping the 73 acre former St. Brendan’s Hospital grounds in Dublin’s North Inner City.  The GDA’s mission is to transform Grangegorman into a vibrant community that encompasses a world class, integrated and inclusive education, health, and community campus. This will be achieved by delivering a built environment that is in keeping with the Grangegorman Masterplan Vision.

Explore the campus using the guide below and you can view a site map of this tour here

STOP 1: East Quad 

  • James Mary O’Connor, who created the Masterplan for the site, grew up in Phibsboro, went to DIT - now TU Dublin, and a close family member was a patient in the hospital in Grangegorman.
  • Within the Grangegorman site there are HSE healthcare facilities, Dublin 7 Educate Together primary school and TU Dublin which has 10,000+ registered students community spaces, and conservation of protected structures (Clock Tower / An Croi).
  • East Quad (AHR Architects, Sisk/FCC) – is the cultural hub for the area. TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music & Drama, School of Creative Arts and School of Media all live here, with approx. 3,500 students attending here. This building was completed in 2020, and this building is also home to the Black Box Theatre, Recital Hall and large Concert Hall

 

STOP 2: The Lower House & Serpentine Walk (walking through the East Quad Atrium)

The Lower House was designed by Francis Johnston, also known for the GPO and Nelson’s Pillar and it is the oldest building on site. Once a sprawling quad extending to where standing, only south front range remains.  Abandoned and derelict since the early 90’s, very little roof left, no internal floors, a shell remained.  Now thanks to GDA conservation works it is a Student Hub – restaurant, sports and dance studios, music practice rooms and TU Dublin SU spaces.

  • Stabilisation works (2015) – Coady Architects carried out by Bourke Builders.
  • Restoration works (2021) – FKP Architects carried out by Purcell Construction.

The Serpentine Walk, is in front of the East Quad this site was originally a pear and apple orchard and farmland serving Christchurch Cathedral.

  • House of Industry/North Dublin Union/Workhouse built first on this site and is now completely demolished.
  • Need for dedicated care for people with mental health issues, decision made to build the ‘Richmond Lunatic Asylum’, one of the first public psychiatric hospitals in Ireland. Richmond Penitentiary followed a few years later, adding another institutional use to the site.
  • The Asylum soon became overcrowded and the land across Grangegorman Road was bought from Lord Monck and further hospital buildings, including churches and a laundry were added over the next c. 50 years to serve the hospital.
  • The Asylum became the Grangegorman District Mental Hospital, then St Brendan’s Hospital which closed in 2013 when the last patients moved to the new Phoenix Care Centre on site.

 

STOP 3: Church of Ireland

Built in 1860 the former Church of Ireland chapel, was designed by George Wilkinson and is one of many protected structures on the Grangegorman site. Located in the southeast corner, it sits within a peaceful green space accessed via the planned Serpentine Walk. 

clock tower drawing

 

STOP 4: Clock Tower

The iconic Clock tower was designed by architect Francis Johnston and built in 1816 as a penitentiary. It has served many roles—including a Fever Hospital, prison, Cholera Hospital, and the UK and Ireland’s first exclusively female penitentiary.

  • Francis Johnston created this structure, and,  like the Lower House, it is designed to be imposing on approach
  • First building of its type in Britain and Ireland. It was orginally a large fan-shaped building – single cells at the outside, moving inwards to multiple-occupancy cells, and workshops towards the centre.
  • Only front range and part of centre spine remain. Further works are necessary to restore building and bring fully back into use as part of the University.
  • Male and female originally (separated) but women’s only penitentiary and transport depot from mid 1830s.
  • Over 3,200 women and children were transported to Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) from this building. Last transport was c. 1898.
  • Building was in use as a cholera hospital – outbreak in 1832/33.
  • Clock Tower was annexed as part of St Brendan’s until the GDA took over the site. Some stabilisation and construction have taken place, most recently this year, however full restoration will be at a future stage of site development.
  • TU Dublin President’s Office are currently based in the building.

 

STOP 5:  An Croí / Cluster Buildings

The cluster buildings were designed by W G Murray in the 1850's. The Masterplan inverted the entrances and created An Croí, making a new access onto Grangegorman Lower

  • Clockwise from the left = Female Infirmary, St Laurence’s Catholic Church, Male Infirmary (all 1849-50) AND the Female House (1870) on the right.
  • NOW: Bradogue, St Laurence’s, Glassmanogue, Rathdown House = Repurposed for student use.
  • St Laurence’s Church is still consecrated and Mass held there on Thursday lunchtimes, it is also used by TU Dublin for lectures, seminars and meetings.
  • Church of Ireland Church (George Wilkinson, c.1836) and it was in use until 2013 as part of St Brendan’s Hospital

The first 1,000 students arrived on site in 2014. These buidlings now house canteen, student services, gym, security hub and multi-purpose space for the university. 

 

STOP 6: Greenway Hub / The Golden Bandstand

The Greenway Hub was the first new TU Dublin building on site, completed in 2020 and serves as a symbol of innovation, sustainability, and academic enterprise.

  • It was constructed building constructed using Building Information Modelling (BIM), a state-of-the-art digital tool that allowed full virtual modelling during development
  • Design team led by RKD Architects and constructed by BAM Building.
  • Home to business start-up space and the Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI).

 

The Golden Bandstand– Sculpture

Part of the Grangegorman Public Art programme, ‘the GOLDEN BANDSTAND – Sculpture’ by artist Garrett Phelan is a functional work of art where, in the artist’s words, all communities from the area will meet, dance, chat, sing, think, kiss, look and listen. 

The artist was influenced by the thinking of Dr. Joseph Lalor, a 19 Century Medical Superintendent in the hospital who used singing, painting, and reading as a central part of his therapeutic practice for his patients – something highly unusual at the time.

 

STOP 7: Central Quad

This building is the largest on site and opened in Sept 2021 along with the East Quad and it replaced DIT Kevin Street and Cathal Brugha Street, it facilitates C.6,000 students studying Culinary Arts, Sciences, Health, Tourism and Engineering and also is home to the National Optometry Centre.

  • Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios led the design team and were part of the Eurigena Consortium and the building was constructed by Sisk FCC.
  • Shortlisted for World Architecture Foundation Awards 2022 under Completed Buildings: Higher Education and Research

 

STOP 8: Academic Hub

This building will consolidate 4 TU Dublin libraries, and will include Career Development Centre, Civic Engagement, Maths Learning Centre and Disability Support Service

  • O’Donnell + Tuomey led design team
  • Expected completion end of 2025
  • St Brendan’s Way and the Serpentine Walk will continue past this location to the boundary and eventually connect with Prussia Street/Stoneybatter.