UCC’s Kane building receives re-development funding

The heart of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at University College Cork (UCC), the Kane Science building, will undergo significant redevelopment after receiving €25 million in funding today under the second round of Higher Education Strategic Investment Fund. 

Opened in 1971 the Kane Science Building  supports undergraduate and postgraduate education for approximately 1,500 students per year as well as world class research in areas such as Quantum Physics, Sustainable materials and research related to the biopharma sector. The redevelopment will facilitate the education of 300 more STEM students at undergraduate and postgraduate level per year through redeveloped and expanded state of the art teaching and research spaces.

The Kane Science building houses the Schools of Chemistry and Physics, which underpin STEM programmes for all scientists and engineers at UCC, and is also home to the Eureka Science Education Centre, which provides training facilities for all secondary School science teachers that study in UCC.

The funding awarded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will amplify the critical contribution of the University and the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science to the regional and national economy, through enhanced STEM education and research.

For many decades, UCC has played a key role in provision of STEM graduates to sectors such as the Pharma and ICT sectors, which will be further enhanced by this development. The funding will also ensure the Kane building becomes more sustainable and energy efficient reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51%, helping UCC achieve its 2030 carbon reduction targets and serving as an exemplar of how retrofitting can be deployed in publicly funded buildings and adapted to respond to climate mitigation measures.

UCC has recently published its five year strategy – Securing Our Future: UCC Strategic Plan 2023–2028 – the redevelopment of the Kane Science Building is a priority within this strategic plan.