Our commission at Trinity for the Rubrics Building began with an appraisal of the significance of existing fabric which dates from 1697 and is the oldest existing structure on the campus. It is a highly sensitive site, forming one edge of the College’s Front Court, next to the Old Library, which is Eire’s most popular tourist attraction (home of the Book of Kells). It has always been used as residential accommodation however the antiquated facilities (poor accessibility, shared bathrooms and dated interiors etc), is seriously limiting its ability to contribute effectively to the future life of The College, particularly given its prominent location.

Our appraisal highlighted what would need to be achieved to refurbish the building, to become a more effective residential facility; providing short to medium term residential accommodation for up to 28 visiting academics. The proposals also provided facilities for College Fellows including a study area, seminar rooms, and a small reading room.

To enable this refurbishment, fundamental issues of access and safe means of escape had to be resolved without detrimental effects on the historic fabric. We explored different options for creating protected escape stair cores around the historic timber staircases, and integrating passenger lifts within the building’s historic fabric. This provided a base line solution the College could confidently present to the City Authorities as a deliverable solution to the building’s ongoing challenges.

In addition to this, we also worked up proposals, developing an alternative approach, minimising intrusive works by removing the lifts from the historic building all together. New free standing lift towers were created, separated from the main building by minimal glazed links. This reduced the level of intrusive works within the historic structure, while locating the new stairs sensitively in areas of established landscaping within a less sensitive part of the Campus.

An options appraisal exercise tested variations of these approaches in different configurations, to help the College determine a preferred strategy along with a detailed cost plan. This Option, along with the analytical work which underpins its development forms the basis of a detailed report to support the initial consultation with the City’s conservation authorities.

Individual accommodation units ranged from 25sqm to nearly 40sqm and all featured ensuite accommodation and kitchenettes, in predominantly open plan arrangements which integrate with the complex façade layouts and the enormous chimney clusters which pass through each floor, seriously compromising the adaptability of the building, throughout its existence.

At ground floor there are both accessible rooms and a suite of spaces for College Fellows, providing a dedicated study area, seminar rooms and a small library / reading room. This is accessed by opening up a pair of historic archways which originally provided access for carriages to the adjacent Courtyard, and had been filled with washrooms in the early C20th.

The scheme also includes the repair of the external envelope where inappropriate materials (notably sand cement render) have been introduced over time and are compromising the building’s long-term performance.