The new 20million euro Waterford Institute of Technology Arena is close to completion.
It's expected that the multi purpose facility will be finished at the end of August and open to students this September.
College management say the Arena will be a valued addition to the region as a conference, entertainment and sporting venue.
WIT President, Prof Donnelly highlighted the opportunities the finished facility will offer to the region, the local community as well as current and future students.
“This is a fantastic addition for anybody who wants to study in WIT. It’s going to provide probably one of the best indoor and outdoor sports facilities in Ireland. I think it’s particularly important that students have this access to both the best education and the best facilities for health and fitness.”
WIT Sports Hall plans
Mike Geoghegan, CEO of Direct Campus Services, welcomed the opportunity to work on the new sports arena. “I believe in the importance of the link between sport and education and I think this facility will serve the students and the community for years to come.”
The completion of this building will complement the existing grass, all-weather and support facilities at the sports campus.
The completed facility will provide up-to-date modern and scientific sports facilities, gymnasiums, teaching and learning lecture rooms for the Institute’s student and staff community.
The WIT Arena has been a work in progress for the past 9 years:
- Work started on the initial part of the first phase of the development in August 2007.
- This consisted of three sand based grass pitches, training areas and the laying of the base for the all weather pitch.
- June 2008 the floodlights were erected on the three grass pitches.
- June 2009 the finishing work started on the all weather pitch.
- Also in that same year the building work commenced on the dressing rooms.
- March 2010 the WIT Senior Hurling team were the first team to use the new facility.
- Early 2012 work commenced on phase 2 of the project the main building.
- November of the same year the project came to a halt.
- Late December 2015 work recommenced on the main building.
- Completion date August 2016, Open September 2016.
