The Lower House
Overview
The Lower House, formerly the Richmond Asylum, is one of the most significant buildings on the Grangegorman campus. Located south of the East Quad and Broadstone Walkâit originally opened in 1814 and once accommodated over 2,000 patients at its peak.
As the last surviving wing of the original quadrangle complex of the Richmond Lunatic Asylum, the building served as a mental health facility for much of its history before transitioning to a HSE administration center, eventually being vacated in the 1980s and falling into disrepair. Of the original four ranges, only the Lower House remains, with the others demolished due to structural issues.
Stabilization works began in 2015, and a full restoration was completed in 2020, including the addition of two single-storey extensions to the north elevation. Now a protected structure, the Lower House has been carefully refurbished to blend its heritage with modern functionality and serves a vital role in student life at TU Dublin, housing a dance studio, production kitchen, canteen, music practice rooms, fitness spaces, the TU Dublin Student Union, and office space. It stands today as a powerful example of heritage renewal and adaptive reuse.
Current Status
This project was completed in 2021
- Projects
- Masterplan Project
- Academic Hub and Library
- An Croí
- Broadstone Plaza
- Central Quad
- Former Church of Ireland Chapel
- Clock Tower Stabilisation Works
- Dublin 7 Educate Together School
- East Quad
- Energy Centre
- Geothermal Gemini Project
- Green Finger, Playscape & Ivy Avenue
- Greenway Hub
- Indoor Sports
- Grangegorman Junction Works
- Phoenix Care Centre
- Grangegorman Playground
- Primary Care Centre
- Print Making Workshop
- Prussia Street Gate
- Rathdown House
- Research Hub 2
- Residential Care Neighbourhood
- Saint Laurence's Catholic Church
- Site Infrastructure and Public Realm
- Student Housing
- The Golden Bandstand - Sculpture
- The Lower House
- West Quad