DCC reveal plans for College Green civic space

Dublin City Council (DCC) have unveiled the proposed design for the College Green civic space, which they say will accommodate 15,000 people for major public gatherings.

Described as an “exciting and creative design” which will “renew College Green as a civic space in the heart of Dublin,” the proposed design will see the area become a “pedestrian priority space” which DDC say will significantly improve the quality of the city’s public realm.

Designed by Dixon Jones/Paul Keogh Architects, working closely with Dublin City Council, the newly shaped College Green development will be 7,300 sq. metre area for people to enjoy in the heart of the city centre. 

The area will be lined with trees and paved with granite to facilitate large gatherings and processional events, and would be fully equipped with infrastructure required to stage such events.

A total of 22 trees will be planted, while the existing Henry Grattan and Thomas Davis monuments will be restored and retained as key focal points on an axis with the gates of Trinity College. The Thomas Davis monument will be relocated slightly further west of its current position.

According to DCC, “an innovative and playful element of the new College Green space is an open water sculpture, with 32 individual water jets which will be controlled depending on the seasons and events taking place at College Green”.

As part of the design there will be a new turning circle for buses at the western approach to the space. 

Taxi ranks currently in the College Green area will be relocated to adjacent streets. There will be two-way traffic routes for taxis, buses and the new Luas Cross City running in a north-south direction around the front of Trinity College.

Speaking about the proposed design, Dublin City Architect, Ali Grehan says: “The clear preference was for a pedestrian and cycle friendly open space.

“This College Green project is a unique opportunity for Dublin to reclaim an urban space of prime civic importance and of national and international significance.”

Meanwhile, lead architect Paul Keogh says: “With Dublin City Council, we are aiming to create ‘Dublin’s living room’ – a place that is safe, adaptable and friendly for people of all ages, both for everyday social interaction and for major public events, comparable with world-class spaces of similar scale internationally.”