Taoiseach to open Ireland’s first co-located university enterprise quarter
Olivia Kelleher
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to officially open the country’s first co-located university enterprise quarter on Monday at the former Waterford Crystal manufacturing site.
Waterford Crystal employed up to 3,000 people at its peak in the 1980’s. Crystal works ceased on the Kilbarry Waterford City site in 2009 after 62 years.
The 37-acre site is being reborn as “Glassworks.” The new €43 million 80,000 square foot ‘Building One’ will house up to 800 employees.
The offices are strategically located beside the South East Technological University’s (SETU) academic and research facilities.
At full capacity, the Glassworks Campus could host as many as 6,000 employees. There is also planning permission for a 582-student accommodation project nearby.
The development aims to take inspiration from successful international university enterprise quarters such as the University of Nottingham’s Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri.
The site’s revamp will enable businesses and academics to collaborate and innovate in ways not previously possible.
SETU President Professor Veronica Campbell says that Glassworks “will play a pivotal role in Ireland’s knowledge economy where students, startups and researchers can collaborate, test ideas and create the next generation of ground-breaking products, technologies and businesses.”
The project is a joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers.
Building One is Waterford’s first purpose-built, BER A3-rated office building that meets LEED Gold and WiredScore Gold standards.
Meanwhile, permission has been granted for the development of an eye care medical facility at the site. The facility will be operated by Veonet Ireland, who provide services such as cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and vitreous retinal procedures.
The clinic will accommodate five diagnostic rooms and six consultation rooms, along with a theatre and recovery area. The opening of the day unit comes as SETU is at the planning stage for a new course in optometry.
