SETU’s Glassworks developments move to next stage
South East Technological University (SETU) is delighted to confirm that two landmark educational projects at the flagship Glassworks campus in Waterford city are progressing to the next stage of development.
Glassworks is a bold new innovation campus where university meets enterprise. The 37-acre campus, set on the historic Waterford Crystal manufacturing site, is being developed by SETU, Frisby Group and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The vision for Glassworks is to bring enterprise and academia together in a shared campus that allows academic and commercial worlds converge; creating conversations, shaping ideas and fuelling knowledge transfer and innovation.
The two planned facilities for Glassworks – the Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, and One Health buildings - mark the next significant step in realising this vision. These facilities will set the tone for future expansion and partnership and represent the initial phase of development on the 20 acres owned by the University. To support this ambition, SETU has engaged Building Design Partnership (BDP) as the design team for the Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy facilities, spanning a total of 3,000 sqm. This project is supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DFAM).
Welcoming the appointment, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU said, “We are delighted to announce the appointment of BDP as the design team, marking an important milestone for the project. These facilities are set to play a key role in supporting new and innovative programmes in Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine at SETU. With the design team now in place, the project can move forward in the development process.”
The plans include more than 2,000 square metres of laboratory and teaching space at the Glassworks campus, alongside as a separate 1,040 square metre building at Teagasc Kildalton College in County Kilkenny.
Michael Mullen, Head of BDP Ireland, welcomed the opportunity to partner with SETU on these landmark facilities at the Glassworks campus and Teagasc Kildalton College. “Using our renowned education and life science experience, this is a special opportunity to help shape the future of veterinary and pharmacy education in Ireland, creating a vibrant, sustainable environment where teaching, learning, research and innovation thrive side by side. It’s a project that really speaks to our purpose of designing a world that’s built for good – with our ambition to create new campus places for the SETU community to flourish,” Mr Mullen said.
In addition, SETU’s preliminary business case for its One Health building has been approved to move to the next stage of development by the HEA and DFHERIS under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Programme (TSSPP). This allows the project to move to the design, planning and procurement strategy phase. The One Health facility will be the larger of the two academic buildings initially planned for the Glassworks campus. Once complete, the One Health building will provide a major new academic and research base within SETU’s Faculty of Science and Computing, enhancing capacity in Science, Land Science and One Health.
The building will support undergraduate, postgraduate and research activity and will underpin the development of a new One Health research centre.
Prof. Campbell, added: “Together, these developments represent a transformative investment in SETU’s future and in the wider South East region. The development of the One Health building, alongside the new Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy facilities, will significantly increase our research performance and strengthen regional capacity for high-impact education and interdisciplinary collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health. “By bringing together academia, industry, and innovation in a shared environment, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem that supports talent development and drives economic growth. These facilities will provide access to high-value expertise, programmes, and networks, with a strong focus on emerging technologies and sustainability.”
SETU’s Strategic Plan aims to lead in sustainability through inclusive, biodiverse, and resilient campuses, embedding sustainable development in both education and research. The design will support a sustainable campus through the use of low and zero-carbon technologies, natural lighting, and high-performance building materials. These developments reflect SETU’s commitment to ensuring our campuses evolve in an environmentally responsible and future-focused way.
Overall, the projects, in line with the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040, will strengthen access to expertise, programmes, and networks in Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and One Health, supporting SETU’s role as a driver of innovation and regional development.
