Trinity has submitted two new planning permission applications to Dublin City Council which, if approved, will see development and improved disability access to the outside of the College Chapel and the Public Theatre, often referred to as the Exam Hall, in Front Square.
If the planning application for the Public Theatre, submitted on January 26th, is successful, 1.9 metres of the railings within the centre of the balcony will be removed to make space for a new organ chair. College aims to have the replaced organ and the restored original organ case in use for the 2017 commencements, in which graduating classes are presented with their degrees.
Built by Lancelot Pease, the original case has been dated back to 1684, older than the Public Theatre itself.
The second planning application, submitted on January 30th, is for the installation of two cantilever platform lifts, one located at the entrance steps to the College Chapel and the other on the steps to the Public Theatre. The aim of the lifts is to increase disability access to the two buildings. Currently, the ramp outside the arts block is also undergoing construction in order to widen and extend the existing ramp in order to improve accessibility.
Speaking to The University Times by email, Paul Mangan, Director of Estates and Facilities, stated that both lifts will provide access to the entrances of the buildings for those with physical disabilities. He also noted “the lifts will recess into the ground when not in use and will therefore not impact on the vista of Front Square”.
This application also seeks to restore some parts of the wrought iron gates at the entrance to both the College Chapel and the Public Theatre.
Both the College Chapel and the Public Theatre are protected structures.
The Public Theatre, which is used regularly for formal College events, commencements and to host prestigious guests such as Vice-President of the US, Joe Biden, was closed for the summer period in 2016 in order to replace and restore the organ at a cost of €400,000. Following the restoration, the hall underwent redecoration.
These new applications follow a series of construction works taking place across campus, including the development of the ground floor of the Lloyd Institute. Construction on a larger scale is underway on the new Trinity Business School, and the development of the 250-bed Oisín House accommodation project is expected to begin shortly.
These works will also result in the laying of ducts and other site works.
