The Queen Street Student Accommodation development is located on a c.0.3ha brownfield site in the heart of Galway City, close to Eyre Square and the Inner Harbour Area. The scheme provides 345 student bed spaces across 44 cluster apartments, comprising two distinct blocks of 8 and 9 storeys over a common ground floor, with a gross floor area of approximately 10,747sqm.
The development features attractive brickwork façades and a comprehensive range of communal amenities, including study areas, student lounges, a wellness hub, gym and studio space, cinema room, and laundry facilities. External terraces are also provided at First, Eighth and Ninth Floor levels.
DBFL provided civil and structural engineering services for the development.
The development presented significant engineering challenges associated with the site’s former use as a gas storage facility, requiring piled foundations to address challenging ground conditions.
A key structural challenge involved accommodating a two-storey wayleave beneath the taller block to facilitate future bus access to the adjoining Ceannt Station lands. This required a complex structural arrangement incorporating a cantilevered corner.
DBFL assessed a number of structural options to establish the preferred construction methodology, comprising a precast concrete superstructure supported on a cantilevered reinforced concrete transfer slab.
The redevelopment of this former gas storage facility brownfield site makes efficient use of previously developed urban land, delivering high-quality student accommodation in a central Galway location.
The scheme incorporates 175 cycle parking spaces to encourage active travel and reduce reliance on private vehicles. Its proximity to Ceannt Station and the city centre further supports sustainable transport choices.
The development also provides a range of communal amenities, wellness facilities and external terraces, promoting student health and wellbeing.
Project Director
