Steven Holl Wins Competition for University College Dublin’s Future Campus

Today's announcement comes four months after six teams were shortlisted from 98 submissions, and six weeks after UCD and MRC released images of the six shortlisted designs. Steven Holl Architects bested Diller Scofidio + Renfro, John Ronan Architects, O’Donnell + Tuomey, Studio Libeskind, and UNStudio; the NYC firm worked with Kavanagh Tuite Architects, Brightspot Strategy, Arup, HarrisonStevens, and Transsolar. The competition asked entrants to design a roughly 24-hectare masterplan for the 133-hectare campus and a new Centre for Creative Design (CCD), the latter meant to serve as a future architectural icon for UCD.

​The jury* was impressed with both aspects of Holl's design, with the masterplan forming seven quadrangles and enhancing the campus's historic buildings and landscapes, and the CCD acting as a strong gateway to campus. The building's bold, prismatic form was inspired by the Giant's Causeway, a geologic formation and UNESCO World Heritage Site that wraps Ireland's North Antrim Coast. CCD captures natural light through angled skylights, including two vertical structures angled at 23 degrees to mirror the earth’s tilt. Furthermore, the auditorium was designed to echo the shape of UCD’s iconic 1972 water tower.

Andrew J. Deeks, President of University College Dublin and Chair of the jury, said in a statement: "Holl’s vision is intriguing and striking – combining an iconic design for the Centre for Creative Design with a masterplan distinguished by a few considered, highly intelligent moves that open up the centre of the campus and use creative landscaping to intensify its natural beauty." Hugh Campbell, Professor of Architecture at University College Dublin and member of the jury, also said: "Holl’s emphasis on daylight and social connection promises a building which will enable and encourage collaboration and interaction, a building which is open and welcoming, a building in which cutting-edge technologies and core creative practices can fruitfully combine."

​The jury awarded a special commendation to the team led by Chicago's John Ronan Architects for "a masterplan of great clarity that was beautifully thought through and a Centre for Creative Design that had gravitas and a gentle, rational strength."

*The sizable jury:

• Andrew J. Deeks, University College Dublin President (chair)
• Malcolm Reading, Architect and Competition Director as the administrative chair
• Sir David Adjaye, Principal, Adjaye Associates
• Ann Beha, Principal, Ann Beha Architects
• Joe Berridge, Partner, Urban Strategies, Inc.
• Hugh Campbell, Professor of Architecture, Head of Subject and Dean, School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, UCD
• Dermot Desmond, Chairman, International Investment & Underwriting
• Orla Feely, Vice President, Research, Innovation and Impact and Professor of Electronic Engineering, UCD
• David FitzPatrick, Principal, College of Engineering and Architecture and Dean of Engineering, UCD and Provost, Beijing-Dublin International College
• Michael Monaghan, Vice President, Campus Development, UCD
• Sean Mulryan, Founder and CEO, Ballymore Group
• Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor, Royal College of Art, London.