Steven Holl Architects (SHA) has been declared winner of the Future Campus – University College Dublin International Design Competition. In a statement, the international jury judging the competition said it was "hugely impressed" by SHA’s design proposal for a Centre for Creative Design and the accompanying masterplan for an Entrance Precinct – which in total will cover a 24ha area of the campus. The design competition's four other finalists were

A U2 attraction in the heart of Dublin could become one of Ireland's most visited tourist sites, with plans unveiled for an exhibition centre dedicated to the band on the capital's waterfront. To be developed on Hannover Quay – the current site of the band's existing recording studio – the new three storey complex will display a selection of never-before-seen U2 memorabilia collected over the four decades of the group's

Interior design studio 21 Spaces have completed an extensive refurbishment of one of Dublin’s most established hotels, The Alex. The 105-room hotel dates from 1990 and played an important role in the growth of the city. It is situated in Merrion Square, adjacent to the former industrial area. These historical references have been evoked in the new renovation, which has “playful and informal” bespoke design and detailing throughout. Floor tiles

Cricket Ireland has confirmed plans to develop a new national cricket stadium west Dublin, just months after the country secured Test status on the international stage. The national governing body has chosen Dublin’s National Sports Campus as the location for the venue. The move is part of a strategy to meet the requirements of future international and domestic first-class cricket in Ireland. Ireland was given full membership of the International

Ireland’s most popular visitor attraction is seeking to draw even more visitors after the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin announced €16m (US$18.5m, £14.2m) expansion plans centred around doubling the size of its Gravity Bar. The culmination of the Guinness visitor experience, the plans will see the creation of a new 360 degree space, which will directly link to the original Gravity Bar – Dublin's highest – forming an expansive area for

The International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) has planned an “unprecedented sharing of expertise, insight and discussion” on the design, development and operation of leisure centres and swimming pools this week. International architects, engineers, government officials and leisure centre operators will converge in Dublin from 9-10 February to discuss topics such as state of the art sports facility design, creating sustainability, future-proofing and encouraging inclusion. Facilities used as

National sporting infrastructure in Ireland has received a major boost with the delivery of the €41m (US$44m, £35m) National Indoor Arena in Dublin, which will be officially opened today (26 January). Located within the wider National Sports Campus, the new 44,500sqm (479,000sq ft) facility can accommodate 1,900 spectators and host 20 multi-disciplinary sports. It includes an internationally certified running track and training hub for athletics, a gymnastics centre, a 12

Leinster Rugby has submitted proposals for the €26m (£22m, US$29m) redevelopment of its home RDS Arena. The three-time European champion has applied for planning permission from Dublin City Council to increase the capacity of the stadium from 18,500 to 21,000, while improving the visitor facilities within the Anglesea stand. Dublin studio Newenham Mulligan and London-based architects Grimshaw have been selected to create the design concept. Redevelopment work will not only

A consortium of architecture and design firms has been chosen to design a £15m (€20m, US$22m) redevelopment of the RDS Arena in Dublin, Ireland. International architecture firm Grimshaw has been paired with local practice Newenham Mulligan to carry out the overhaul of the arena, following an international design competition run by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI). Situated south of Dublin city centre, the RDS arena it a

Leinster Rugby and The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) will undertake a €20m redevelopment of the RDS Arena in Dublin, increasing the venue’s capacity from 18,500 to 25,000. Following the work the stadium – which hosts all Leinster’s Pro12 and Heineken Cup home games – is expected to be included in Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The venue is also home to the RDS’ annual Dublin Horse

Image: UCD's new 50m swimming pool is now open A 10-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool is among the facilities at a new EUR50m (£40m) leisure complex at University College Dublin (UCD) - one of Ireland's largest universities. The 11,000sq m (118,403sq ft) UCD Student Centre has been funded by past and present students, with Dublin-based architects Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners behind the design. PJ Walls was the main contractor. Located at

Bord Gáis Energy has signed a new six-and-a-half-year partnership deal with operator Live Nation, which will see Dublin's Grand Canal Theatre rebranded from 7 March 2012. The venue will be called the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre as part of the deal, while other terms include the provision of complimentary and discounted tickets to Bord Gáis customers. Commercial targets relating to its investment in the theatre will see Bord Gáis generate

Dublin, Ireland, has been confirmed as one of three cities to be shortlisted to become World Design Capital 2014 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). The Irish capital city will now go up against Bilbao, Spain, and Cape Town, South Africa, to receive the designation, which is awarded biannually. Dublin's bid - Pivot Dublin, Turn Design Inside Out - is the result of a collaboration of

Swan Leisure, a new Donnelly Turpin Architects-designed leisure centre in Rathmines, Dublin, has been officially unveiled by the local authority. John Paul Construction built the new complex on behalf of Dublin City Council, which forms part of the wider €36m (£30.5m) Rathmines Square development. Facilities include a 49-station gym equipped by Precor; a 25m x 12.5m swimming pool with moveable floor; a dance and fitness studio; and a meeting/spin studio.

Dublin City Council (DCC) has announced that it will be leading the city's bid to be awarded World Design Capital status in 2014. The council will spearhead a group of four local authorities in an application to the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), which designates cities on a bi-annual basis. It is hoped that a successful bid to become World Design Capital will help boost the Irish

A performance of Swan Lake by the Russian State Ballet has marked the official opening of the new Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Designed by Switzerland-based architect Daniel Libeskind and Dublin-based McCauley Daye O'Connell, the 2,111-seat venue forms the centre of the Grand Canal Square development. Chartered Land has delivered the theatre, which boasts seven bars, the Circle Club and a rooftop terrace bar and is operated by Live

Designs put forward by LiD Architecture have been selected as the winning concept for a new public civil space, which will be built as part of a mixed-use redevelopment of Dublin's docklands in Ireland. Dublin City Council (DCC) and Point Village Limited announced that the Belfast-based firm had been chosen following the conclusion of a design competition administered by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI). Plans for The

Dublin's Lansdowne Road stadium, which is currently undergoing a 411m euro (£371m) redevelopment, has been selected to host the 2011 UEFA Cup final. The new 50,000-seat stadium, which is expected to be completed in 2010, was chosen by European football's governing body, UEFA, following a joint bid from Dublin City Council (DCC) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). It is hoped that the event will also help to boost

Irish development company, Chartered Land, has revised plans for a 1.25m euro (£1.014m) regeneration project in the centre of Dublin. Plans for the 5.5-acre (2.25-hectare) Dublin Central scheme were unveiled in April, but the company was asked to submit further information following a request made by planners at Dublin City Council. The mixed-use project will see the regeneration of the city's old Carlton Cinema on Upper O'Connell Street, and will