Multimillion euro development at Sligo IT campus
Planning permission has been approved for two major developments at IT Sligo.
The project will include a complete rebuild of J Block, turning the single floor 1970s building into a modern four-storey complex that will enhance the modern state-of-the-art campus which has seen significant development over recent years.
The project is part-funded through Project Ireland 2040 and will help support additional new places for students at IT Sligo in line with the institute's ambitious plans to increase student numbers to 10,000 by 2022. The announcement also significantly boosts the institute's plans to become a technological university in partnership with GMIT and LYIT this year.
The second green light came for the rebuild of Block L in the institute's north campus. Block K, which is situated beside Block L, was completed in January and is ready for returning students. The plans for Block L will include a tiered seated theatre, which will become a cultural beacon for the northwest region.
These blocks will facilitate the consolidation on campus of the recently established Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture and form a North-Campus Creative Hub in IT Sligo.
The multi-million euro upgrade is a significant part of the institute's plan to become a technological university in partnership with Letterkenny IT and GMIT. The institute has significantly upgraded its 73-acre campus over the past few years, boasting one of the most modern campuses in Ireland.
President of IT Sligo, Dr. Brendan McCormack, has welcomed the announcement. He said: “This multi-million euro development will facilitate a significant upgrade of the last remaining section of the old campus buildings which have been there since the 1970s.
“A large section of this new build will house our online education and our research facilities, and with the upgrade and extension of this building will enable us to further develop and enhance our research and online courses which has seen dramatic growth in recent years.”
“This significant development is an integral part of the master plan of IT Sligo to grow to 10,000 students. The capital developments currently taking place at IT Sligo represent a €35m investment in Sligo, and funding from the Higher Education Authority and from IT Sligo’s reserves is greatly acknowledged to make these important developments happen for the advancement of higher education in the region.”
The tendering process for contractors will be begin in the coming weeks.