Externally striking, internally inspiring, the RCSI Smurfit Building creates a warm, welcoming, village-like atmosphere.

By strategically renovating an existing building, complete with a contemporary extension, MDO delivered a new benchmark for the Beaumont Hospital campus, on a challenging site with a modest budget.

The contemporary addition is linked to its older counterpart by a dramatic, vibrant, glazed atrium, forming a dynamic heart where inside meets outside, and intimate study spaces meet busy, dynamic walkways. The resulting scheme forms an architectural celebration of the RCSI's mission to educate and train new generations of healthcare professionals.

The scheme was driven by a goal of providing a positive, authentic student experience in a collegiate 'campus' style building, centred on principles of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Recognising the importance of comfort and wellbeing in human learning, the design also prioritised natural light, transparent layouts, and a connection to the outside world.

"The building has delivered beyond expectations. With a modest budget, the extension has set a new bar for hospital architecture in Beaumont campus, externally striking, and internally bright, warm and inviting.

Delivering to the brief, but providing more in terms of architecture and design, the building has had an immediate positive impact on our students and staff who now have a world class collegiate 'campus' building which is already encouraging collaboration and innovation."
 
Ronan Baxter | Senior Project Manager, RCSI