2007 MARCH University College Dublin Celebrating the past, creating the future www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday Professor Claire O'Connell Dr Brendan Belinda McKeon Catherine Godson speaks to Williams tells and Professor talks to Danielle Professor Louise Holden Anthony Roche Barron about William Hall what impact discuss The research into about urban sprawl Cambridge diabetic preparing for has for Dublin Companion to kidney a potential Brian Friel disease pandemic flu outbreak 3 7 8 12 Gateway to learning Five international architecture firms have been shortlisted for the UCD Gateway Project. The shortlist was chosen from an initial entry of 62 firms drawn from throughout the world and The calibre of global interest reflects the scale and prestige of the competition. the final winner will be announced in May/June 2007. The brief to the five shortlisted firms is to develop a mixed-use design to include cultural, leisure, The firms include two from the UK, two from Germany, and one from Norway. These world-leading academic, residential, hospitality, retail and commercial functions. All the architects have visited the organisations have been responsible for many outstanding examples of modern architecture such as campus. They will now develop designs that take into account the core research and teaching of the those shown below. See page 2 for a key to these images. university alongside environmental sustainability and beauty in structure and function. inside 3 Diabetes and kidney disease what’sProfessor Catherine Godson talks to Farewell to the Terrace - Danielle Barron about how a multidisciplinary approach to diabetic kidney disease may offer hope for thousands of sufferers look forward to the Gateway 7 Preparing for the flu Professor William Hall speaks to Claire There’s an interesting juxtaposition between the pending The sale of Earlsfort Terrace to the State for the specific purpose of O'Connell about the vital importance of announcement of the architectural competition for the Gateway redeveloping the National Concert Hall is the most appropriate use preparing for a potential pandemic flu outbreak project on the Belfield campus and the final departure from of this wonderful building and well-positioned site. Its location Earlsfort Terrace. ensures good accessibility for all concert-goers wherever they live. Its use as a music and entertainment venue fulfils a continuity dating 8 The long commute Originally built as an exhibition palace and winter garden for the back to the 1860s. Over the decades - whether in the hands of the Dr Brendan Williams tells Louise Holden about great exhibition of 1865, Earlsfort Terrace was used as an exhibition university, the NCH, private owners or the government - it has the implications of urban sprawl in Dublin and concert venue until its transfer via the Commissioners of Public played host to marvellous performances. From Count John Works to the Royal University of Ireland in 1883 and subsequently McCormack concerts, to a young Cyril Cusack playing Jack Worthing became home to University College Dublin in 1908. for DramSoc’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest, to Heads of School wall-chart 10-11 Maeve Binchy's quips at L&H debates. Wallchart of the heads of Converting the building for university purposes involved a number of interesting features. ...“it will be necessary to have two separate colleges and schools Of course it is nostalgic to leave a place with so much history but it entrances (one for males and one for females) to the Examination is just another step in the UCD legacy. portion of the Buildings” suggested a submission from the RUI senate 12 Friel's Companion to the Board of Works. The original concert hall became the Great The final move from Earlsfort Terrace into new facilities on the Professor Anthony Roche discusses Hall and was used for examinations, ceremonial occasions and Belfield campus completes the vision that began over 70 years ago. his new book, The Cambridge Companion to conferrals as well as for concerts. Among those awarded with The timely campus development plan reflects the need to take honorary degrees in music in the Great Hall were Princess modern life into account. In order to draw together the different Brian Friel with Belinda McKeon (later Queen) Alexandra. In 1885 and the first Doctor of Music was functions of this modern university, the plan sets out academic, awarded to another woman, Annie Patterson, one of the founders of environmental, social, innovation and residential goals. Music at UCD the Féis Ceoil. An Italian style campanile was constructed to disguise 18 The Gateway and the wider Campus Development Plan give this Choral Scholars and Sinfonia the building's ventilation shaft and the front façade was faced with Dungannon sandstone. The three allegorical stone figures of Hibernia, generation an opportunity to stamp our own mark on the landscape. continue UCD’s musical tradition Industry and Commerce were removed from the pediment and We will craft an iconic image of 21st century UCD that blends the remained propped against a back wall until the 1950s. In 1987 they aesthetic with the functional. We can look forward to benefiting UCD Sports were instated in a small garden along Dame Street, commemorating from the work done in the modern facilities for students, staff and 19 the wider community. In creating a living space that focuses on Get in Gear at UCD Dublin's millennium but they have subsequently been moved again because of their badly-weathered condition. interaction between people, we are presented with an opportunity to take hold of our environment, to solve the modern problems of cars The expansion of UCD under the vision of Dr Denis Coffey, president and noise and to build something sustainable and beautiful for from 1908 to 1940, led to the beginning of land acquisition for what future generations. is now the Belfield Campus. Belfield House on 44 acres was bought in 1933, Ardmore on 20 acres was bought by the government in The move from the Terrace will not go unmarked. From Thursday 17 1948 and was subsequently swapped for Montrose (now RTE). to Sunday 20 May 2007 a programme of events will take place in the Whiteoaks on 34 acres was bought in 1949 and Merville in 1951. Terrace, the Iveagh Gardens and Newman House. The calendar will Woodview, Belgrove and Thornfield were all purchased in the 50s and shortly be published on the UCD website but anyone with a good Roebuck Grove and Castle during the 60s. Richview on 11 acres and idea for an event or activity is welcome to get in touch. Rosemount on 6.5 acres were bought in 1980/81. Added to other Eilis O’Brien purchased parcels of land the entire campus comprises over 300 Director of Communications acres (121 hectares). Contributors: Produced by: Cover Image: Carolina Amador, Suzanne Bailey, Eilis O’Brien, Claire Percy, Dominic Martella, On the front cover, clockwise from left to right: Danielle Barron, Deborah Butler, Marc Caball, Rose Cotter and Louise Murphy 1. Bergen School of Art and Design Raquel Cabral, Catherine Carey, James Carroll, Design: by Snøhetta Architects Brian Caulfield, Peter Clinch, Sheila Convery, 1. 2. 3. Ciaran Crilly, Terry Dolan, Orla Donoghue, Loman Cusack Design 2. Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Paul Durcan, Demond Earley, Catherine Edlin, Print: by Hopkins Architects Alice Feldman, Catherine Godson, Anne-Marie eBrook 3. Harvard University - Allston Science Complex Harvey, William Hall, Louise Holden, Thanks to: by Behnisch Architekten Emma Kavanagh, Sinead Kelly, Carmel Kissane, Padraic Conway, JP Donnelly, Catherine Godson, Ann Lavan, Brendan Loftus, Ita McGuigan, Maurice Manning, Cliona de Bhaldraithe Marsh, 4. BMW Headquarters in Leipzig 4. 5. Belinda McKeon, Christoph Muller, Damien McLoughlin, Patrick Wall by Zaha Hadid Architects Clar Ni Bhuachalla, Sandra Noonan, Valerie Norton, Ciarán Ó Con Cheanain, In the compilation of this publication, 5. Lufthansa Aviation Centre David O'Connor, Claire O'Connell, Ronan every care has been taken to ensure accuracy. by Ingenhoven Architects O'Dowd, Elaine Quinn, Anthony Roche, Any errors or omissions should be brought to the Bronwyn Salmon, Eileen Scott, Alison Scott attention of UCD University Relations Deeny, Mark Simpson, Cormac Taylor, ([email protected]). We also welcome Cathy Timlin, Micéal Whelan, Brendan Williams your suggestions for articles in future editions. This publication is also available online at www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday 2 Diagnosing diabetic kidney disease Professor Catherine Godson talks to Danielle Barron (BSc 2005) about how a multidisciplinary approach to diabetic kidney disease research may offer hope for thousands of sufferers. Professor Catherine Godson of the UCD Furthermore, increasing numbers of younger Such gene manipulation may involve inhibiting Conway Institute and School of Medicine people are now developing diabetes, whereas the function of a particular gene, or even and Medical Science is Director of the UCD traditionally it was seen as a disease affecting switching on beneficial genes. Expression of Diabetes Research Centre (DRC) that was those over 40 years of age. Professor Godson particular genes may also be linked with disease established in August of last year. Seen as a says this makes understanding the disease and severity, adds Professor Godson. major undertaking, the centre is the first of its mechanisms even more crucial. Diagnostic flags for the development of the its kind in Ireland, and has recently received Of those who suffer from the condition,