University of Limerick Medical School and Accommodation Buildings
This project involved the construction of four structural buildings (medical school and three accommodation blocks) and Piazza with associated hard and soft landscaping and ancillary works on he University’s campus. Each structure had been constructed to different stages when P.J. Hegarty & Sons took possession to complete the project.
Medical School
The total floor area of the building is 4295 sq. metres provided for over four floors. Foundations to this building comprised of piles with associated ground beams and pads upon which a structural insitu concrete frame was formed. Limestone cladding (80mm) formed the outer leaf of the external cavity wall with a 215mm blockwall inner leaf and face finished to the internal. Glazing to the ground floor was of a structural timber nature with aluminium used on the remainder of the building. The roof was constructed of insitu concrete with insulation and asphalt with aluminium roof lights. Wall finishes generally consisted of fair face blockwalls for ease of maintenance with some featured timber acoustic paneling to the lecture theatre and lobby and specialist ‘clean wall system’ to laboratory area. Flooring was made up of tiling to ground floor lobby and toilet areas with carpets in classrooms and open areas and vinyl to laboratory areas. All levels were linked via iroko timber feature stairs.
Organised over four floors, the public uses of foyer, café, lecture theatre for 150 people, two seminar rooms, plant and toilets occupy the ground level.
Accommodation Buildings
These consisted of three separate buildings ranging from five to six floors with a total combined floor area of 3600 sq. metres. These contained 22 No. four bedroom units and 6 No. two bedroom units. Foundations were piled with ground beams and pads. The structural frame comprised of insitu concrete columns and beams with precast slabs and insitu concrete screed. External cavity walls were made up of a brick exterior leaf with a 215mm interal block leaf. Timber glazing with limestone cills was used throughout the three buildings. Access to each building was via feature timber gates. The roof was constructed of precast slab units with insitu concrete screed topped off with insulation and torch on felt. Wall finishes were generally a painted skimmed plasterboard with tiling to toilet and kitchen areas. Flooring consisted of carpet to bedrooms, tiling to stairs,lobbies and toilets, vinyl to kitchen areas.
Each block is entered through a protected “archway” type space which is lit from above and from the sides and is always part double-height.
Piazza
The external works contain 7000 sq. metres plus of hardscaping paving which is comprised of various walkways with a large sloping piazza area to the front of the four buildings.
| Project | University of Limerick Medical School and Accommodation Buildings |
| Client | University of Limerick |
| Architect | Grafton Architects |
| Quantity Surveyors | Nolan Ryan Tweeds Ltd |
| Structural Engineer | Punch Consulting Engineers |
| Services Engineer | Dom O'Malley & Partners |
| Value | €10.97 Million |
