Trinity gets green light from Dublin City Council for Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry

Posted on: 21 November 2019

The E3 Learning Foundry, a flagship development central to the E3-Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies initiative at Trinity College Dublin, got the green light from Dublin City Council planners this week.

Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast announced the Foundry will be named the ‘Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry’, honouring the €25m philanthropic donation by the Naughton family to fund both the Foundry and the E3 Research Institute which will be built in the Docklands in the coming decade. The donation was made through the Naughton Foundation which was established by the founder of the Glen Dimplex Group, Dr Martin Naughton, and his wife, Carmel.

The new Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry will add 1,800 additional places for students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). That means Trinity will have increased the number of STEM students by one third in ten years.

The Schools of Engineering, Computer Science and Statistics, and Natural Sciences will share the facility which will be a launchpad for a new kind of education experience for students with a focus on collaborative and project work. The 7,256 square metre development based on the main Trinity campus will deliver new teaching facilities and an innovative interactive learning space for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studio architects, the six storey building will be located on the east end of the campus, between Westland Row and College Park.  The contemporary building will also connect to the existing older buildings of Zoology and Physiology. The building will target high levels of sustainability in its design, construction programme and operation.

Dublin City Council planners endorsed the contemporary design, stating in their report:

“The proposed development will upgrade one of the most prominent locations in the City, contribute to the animation of the area, will allow for the construction of striking and innovative contemporary/modern building in a historic city location, proximate to public transport and other amenities. The proposal exhibits a distinctive contemporary design which will make a positive contribution to the subject site and Dublin’s urban fabric.”

Announcing the name of the new building Provost, Dr Prendergast said:

“The central theme of E3 is ‘balanced solutions for a better world’. E3 will be a crucial component in our transition to a ‘smarter’ economy, developing technological solutions that are more sustainable and more equitable in the use of the earth’s limited natural resources. I am delighted to name this flagship development the ‘Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry’, after one of Ireland’s leading businessmen, and an engineer who has endorsed its vision from the start.”

 Dr Naughton said:

“E3 will integrate engineering, technology and scientific expertise at scale in addressing some of the major challenges facing Ireland and the world. Throughout my life in business I have been fortunate to have been able to play my part in effecting positive societal change.

E3 represents a real step change in education which will benefit future generations for years to come.”

Significant philanthropic support was also given to E3 by Dr Beate Schuler, Dr Paul Johnston with his wife Theresa Johnston, Dr Eric Kinsella and his wife Barbara Kinsella, along with  Mike Peirce.  An additional €15 million is being made available by the Department of Education and Skills. This funding will be provided through the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It is funded under Project Ireland 2040. ‘

Construction of the Martin Naughton E3 Learning Foundry will commence in 2020 and it is expected to be complete by 2022.