NUI Galway Centre for Drama to be completed next year

Construction of a state-of-the-art new Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance at NUI Galway is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Work began last week on the centre, which will include an auditorium, box office and bar.

Galway-based Purcell Construction has been awarded the contract to build the centre, which will involve the redevelopment of around two-thirds of the IMI building at Earl’s Island.

The building will include:
■ 120-seater flexible auditorium with teaching facilities, control desk and stage management
■ Public foyer with box office and a small bar
■ Backstage changing facilities
■ Three rehearsal rooms, workshop and storage
■ Seminar room with seating for 30 people
■ Administration offices

NUIG said: “The university has a growing ambition in providing teaching and facilities for music and drama. The School of Drama, Theatre and Performance is a comparatively new teaching department and a major priority for the university.

“Currently, there are very limited facilities on the campus for drama and this project represents an ambitious proposal to give the department performance, rehearsal, seminar, workshop and administrative space.”

“The number of undergraduate students in the NUI Galway Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance is 160 in the four year course with an intake of 40 new students each year and an additional six to ten post-grad students.

“These students are currently located at an inadequate building and will relocate to the new Centre upon completion. The total number of students will not be affected. Currently there are six in the Centre which will remain unchanged.

“The caparking is included for in the overall NUI Galway campus carparking masterplan, with the main volume of parking for the campus catered for in the Park & Ride facility on the North Campus.

“A 160-space secure bike parking area with CCTV coverage is located within 100 yards to the Centre. In addition, ten spaces will be provided close to the entrance,” the college told planners.

College authorities initially hoped the building would be constructed and occupied by this month.

Part of the building is already used as the college bar and for the Bank of Ireland Theatre. The Marine Science Department occupied more than half of the building, but will be vacating it entirely.

The building dates back to the 1850s, and was a factory and warehouse before being converted for IMI, Irish Metal Industries in the 1930s.