Maynooth University welcomed Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science James Lawless to campus for the official opening of the Maynooth University Arts Building following a €5.7 million refurbishment to modernise the iconic building while preserving its unique character.
Minister Lawless, who met with staff and students on his visit to campus as well as viewing a new Research Ireland-funded mass spectrometer and other high-tech research equipment, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the refurbished building, one of the main teaching centres on campus.
Speaking about the refurbishment, Minister Lawless said: “I am delighted to be here today for the opening of this facility. These developments will provide state-of-the-art facilities to enhance students' on-campus experience. With Maynooth being my local University, I was familiar with the campus and the old arts block so I was extremely impressed at the architecture and form in the reworked building. This new structure is greener, more sustainable and creates a more pleasant place for students to interact particularly the new all-purpose hall where I met many students congregating during my visit."
MU's Head of Campus and Commercial Services Jonathan Glendinning discusses the refurbishment project.
Originally designed by the renowned Irish architect Robin Walker in the 1970s, the building is one of the oldest on campus and is of significant architectural interest as it was designed in the style of the famous modernist architect, Mies van der Rohe.
Despite evolving over time in response to changes in teaching and learning needs, the Arts Building needed a significant upgrade to bring it into line with MU’s energy efficiency and climate action goals. It was identified as having the poorest energy performance of MU’s building stock as the façade had single glazed windows, walls with little or no insulation, and only natural ventilation by opening the windows.
The refurbishment, led by RKD Architects, was delayed by Covid-19 but went ahead over summer 2023 and 2024 to minimise disruption during term time. The upgrade included:
- Complete façade replacement while remaining faithful to the original design to improve energy performance
- Installation of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in classrooms and lecture spaces
- Bathroom refurbishment and improvement to circulation areas
- Upgrades to classrooms, staff offices and external courtyard
- Structural steel frame repair and repainting to ensure longevity
- Introduction of a new Student Common Room with 240 seats
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| The refurbished exterior of the Arts Building | The new student common room |
Speaking at the ceremony, MU President Professor Eeva Leinonen said: “I want to sincerely thank Minister James Lawless for officially opening the building today, and to express our deep appreciation to him and his Department for their ongoing support of Maynooth University and of higher education across Ireland. This refurbished Arts Building is a testament to our commitment to sustainability, excellence in education, and respect for our architectural heritage.”
“It provides our students and staff with a modern, comfortable, and inspiring environment in which to learn, teach, and collaborate. The spaces in which we learn have a profound impact on the educational experience. In our Strategic Plan, we describe our vision as Campus Beo—a living campus that reimagines university life to reflect the evolving ways we learn, teach, and work. We would like to thank the Department for its support in making our vision a reality.”
Robin Walker, who designed the Arts Building, was a key figure in Irish architecture, along with his partners, Michael Scott and Ronald Tallon. After studying under the legendary Le Corbusier in Paris and later working alongside Mies van der Rohe in Chicago, he returned to Ireland to become part of Scott, Tallon Walker, a firm that became synonymous with Irish modernism during the boom period that followed a major shift in Irish economic policy in the early 1960s.
