PERSPECTIVE Dublin’s new 3,400m² centre for Clinical Education and Research at University Hospital, Limerick, a large acute teaching hospital, is due to commence on site later in 2014. The new centre will provide a unique facility for world class medical education, training and research. The centre’s ambition is to develop innovative medical education techniques which espouse the principles of lifelong learning, for the benefit of all stakeholders. With a construction cost of €9.5m the new four storey building (designed to expand by a further 2 storeys) commands a pivotal position within the hospital development masterplan, forming a new entrance plaza to the existing hospital. The building is clad in a charcoal cladding to provide a striking presence against existing pastel coloured buildings with a stone plinth to the plaza. A two storey glazed entrance signifies the building’s importance and compliments the future two storey glazed hospital entrance. The building caters for a wide range of users and activities: conference and tutorial rooms are located at ground level, an open stair through a generous void leads to the library and IT resource facilities at first floor level, clinical teaching and offices are located on the second floor with clinical research facilities on the third floor. The building is designed to accommodate 50% expansion by the addition of a further two floors to meet the expectant increase in research activities at the centre.