RCSI has announced that is has awarded the main construction contract for the development of a new state-of-the-art academic education building on York Street, to Bennett (Construction) Ltd.

RCSI will invest in the region of €80 million in the development of the 120,000 sq. ft facility. Construction will commence immediately and will be completed by late 2016. The project will create approximately 500 to 600 jobs over the course of the development.

The new RCSI academic education building will be the largest redevelopment project in Dublin city centre in recent years. The building will comprise a state-of-the-art surgical and clinical training suite containing a flexible wet lab, mock operating theatre, clinical training wards, standardised patients rooms and task training rooms. It will also include a 540 seat auditorium, a library spanning three floors with 500 study spaces, a sports hall and fitness suite.

Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI CEO/Registrar, said: “At RCSI we create healthcare leaders who make a difference worldwide, to enable us to do this, we need cutting edge facilities for our students and our staff. The new academic education building will be student centred and will promote the development of the RCSI community at the heart of the city. The building will provide students with the opportunity to study in a modern, inspiring and ambitious medical sciences and surgical training facility and will further strengthen our reputation locally and internationally.”

Commenting on the contract award, Carole Smillie, Construction Director at Bennett (Construction) Ltd said, “This is an iconic project and a vitally important urban regeneration project and we are delighted that we have been successful in this bid. Every building we create continues to influence the work of the client and the community in which it is located and must work for all the parties involved. That’s why we deliver on every commitment we make and, no matter where our work takes us, we apply the same set of long-held values.”

Bennett (Construction) Ltd is an Irish based family owned construction services company with offices and projects in Dublin, London and Germany. The company has expertise across a range of sectors and specialises in Commercial, Industrial, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical. The architects on the project are Henry J Lyons Architects.