TU Dublin opens landmark new building, expanding Tallaght Campus by 15% to meet regional industry and student demand
Minister James Lawless today officially opened Áras Thuaidh, a new 5,200m² multidisciplinary building at Technological University Dublin’s Tallaght campus. The landmark development — which increases the overall campus area by 15% — represents the largest single expansion of teaching and research facilities since the campus became part of the Technological University nearly seven years ago.
The new Áras Thuaidh building was delivered via a Higher Education Public Private Partnership (PPP) and is poised to become a central hub for teaching, innovation and research in hospitality, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, apprenticeships, and culinary arts on the Tallaght campus.
TU Dublin’s approach to education is closely aligned with industry, at the intersection of academic excellence and real-world applicability. With over 800 industry partners co-designing and contributing to programmes, students work with authentic employer problems and tools from the start of their studies. This new building is purpose-designed to support this, delivering more opportunities for ‘hands-on learning’ for students in Dublin and equipping graduates with the confidence and applied skills that industry now demands.
Biomedical Design Student Diana Wielgosz shows Minister James Lawless a prosthetic hand she designed at the opening of the new Áras Thuaidh building in TU Dublin, Tallaght.
As well as expanding access by increasing TU Dublin’s local student capacity, the pivotal new building will also support modern and flexible learning through:
- Eleven Teaching Laboratories, including a Design Studio,
- Six Lecture Theatres and Six Classrooms,
- Two Training Kitchens and One Production Kitchen
- A Training Restaurant
- Cutting-Edge Research Facilities Across Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Culinary Arts
The building will support high-quality programmes on the Tallaght campus, including those in hospitality, culinary arts, engineering and apprenticeships.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, who formally opened Áras Thuaidh today, said:
“Áras Thuaidh is more than a building, it’s a symbol of our shared commitment to investing in people, opportunity, and the future of South-West Dublin. Its opening marks another major milestone in Ireland’s drive to strengthen higher education infrastructure.
“With renewable energy initiatives at its core, Áras Thuaidh stands at the forefront of applied sustainability.
“This impressive multipurpose facility is purpose-built to support modern teaching, learning, and research. It is equipped to spark creativity, innovation, and collaboration across the campus and beyond for generations to come.
“I hope staff and students enjoy this building and the opportunities for learning and discovery it offers as part of this fantastic campus here in Tallaght for many years to come.”
President of Technological University Dublin, Dr Deirdre Lillis, said:
“I am delighted to expand the offerings of the Tallaght campus with this new, purpose-built building. This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to teaching and research excellence, as well as to the local community here in Tallaght. The Áras Thuaidh building reflects how TU Dublin believes learning works best and is purpose-built to support small-group teaching, the latest in facilities and strong skills development for our students. As with all our TU Dublin programmes, our increased student intake will benefit from direct access to expert staff, and real engagement with industry from the start. We look forward to expanding access to higher education to more students across South-West Dublin.”
TU Dublin is a recognised global sustainability leader, and Áras Thuaidh also delivers significantly on its low-carbon commitments, with heating and power provided by renewable energy. A large photovoltaic array on the roof generates on-site renewable electricity of up to 33kva, and the new building is also connected to the Tallaght District Heating Scheme, powered by waste heat recovered from the Amazon data centre nearby. Both these new initiatives position TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus at the cutting edge of applied sustainability in the higher education sector, deploying the very latest in renewable technology in the physical operations of its campus as well as on the curriculum.
Director of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), Andrew O’Flanagan said that
“the completion of this facility for the students and staff of the TU Dublin Tallaght campus marks another important milestone in the delivery of the Higher Education PPP Programme. It also reflects a successful collaboration between the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority, TU Dublin and the NDFA in partnership with PPP Co. Enbarr Education, JJ Rhatigan, Sodexo and their supply chain partners to deliver this project”.
The building was delivered as part of a Higher Education PPP under the management of the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), as part of the National Treasury Management Agency, alongside five other higher education projects nationwide. A sister building - Áras Geal - was also completed at TU Dublin’s Blanchardstown campus earlier this year.