RCSI has held a ‘topping out' ceremony on its new academic education building, located at 26-31 York Street, Dublin 2.

The facility, due for completion in spring 2017, is the outcome of an €80 million investment and is the largest construction redevelopment project in the city centre in recent years with 120,000 square foot of space spanning over ten floors. 

A ‘topping out' ceremony is a tradition in the construction industry to bestow good luck on a new building and is held when a structure has reached its maximum height. The construction project commenced in October 2014 and is being led by Bennett (Construction) Ltd. 

The building will be 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 also includes a 540-seat auditorium, a library spanning three floors with 500 study spaces, a sports hall and fitness suite.

Speaking on the milestone ceremony, Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO/Registrar, RCSI said, "For more than 200 years, RCSI has been present at our city centre location on St. Stephen's Green and this new state-of-the-art educational facility will drive forward the College's mission: to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health, and today marks a major milestone in this journey. RCSI's new building will provide our students and staff with cutting edge resources and will allow students to study and train in a practical, modern, inspiring and environmentally responsible health sciences and surgical training facility, which will promote the development of the RCSI community at the heart of the city." 

Key milestones of RCSI's new academic education building
May 2014
RCSI announces €80 million investment in the development of a its academic building for Dublin city centre. Foundation stone of the facility was laid by then-RCSI President, Professor Patrick Broe and then-Minister for Education, Mr Ruairi Quinn TD.

September 2014
Bennett Construction Ltd awarded the main construction contract for the development.

October 2014 
Construction begins at the site in York Street, Dublin.

May 2016
‘Topping out' of new RCSI building on York Street.

Spring 2017
Completion of the new RCSI facility.