Latest news with #Glassworks
BBC News
11-08-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Glassmakers see little future when Sunderland centre shuts
Artists and skilled tradespeople have said they are considering moving or leaving the industry when the National Glass Centre (NGC) closes. The University of Sunderland plans to shut the centre in the city next July, with a replacement facility called Glassworks, at the former Peter Smith Antiques site in Sunniside, not opening until 2028. Artists Joanna Manousis and Zac Weinberg, who came to the city specifically for the centre's facilities, said they were questioning if they should stay because there was "nothing set in stone" for the Brian Jones, who has been renting a studio at the NGC since it opened in 1998, said he would retire after the closure. "It's unfortunate. I'm at the end of my working life, but I feel more for the younger people," said Mr Jones, 70."I would carry on if they can keep it open." Ms Manousis and Mr Weinberg, who moved to Sunderland in 2020 with their two children, said they were considering setting up something themselves, but finding a suitable space and funding was a challenge. There are plans for an alternative facility in the city during the gap between the NGC closing and Glassworks opening, but no details have been confirmed yet. "We're questioning if we'll be able to stay or if we should stay in the area because there is nothing set in stone at the moment," Ms Manousis said. Mr Weinberg, who is American, said the "real tragedy" was for people who were just becoming interested in glass and were looking for places to learn. Sunderland University announced last year it would also close its glass and ceramics programme in the summer of 2026. Mr Weinberg added: "To come here and just slowly have the rug being pulled out from underneath us and the community of artists that surrounds this place has been disappointing and extremely short-sighted in terms of the university's decision to do that."Sunderland University, which is closing the venue because of "unaffordable" building repair costs, said it had been "completely transparent" in its decision. 'World leading' Some of the pieces Ms Manousis and Mr Weinberg have created while working in the city are being displayed at the NGC until 10 show, called Three Artists, has more than 100 pieces and also features artwork by Anthony Manousis, who is from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, said the artists felt "deeply honoured" to have their work showcased."It shows the public what can be achieved with the world leading resources offered at the glass centre," she said. "There's fewer and fewer places for young adults to learn and for important research to be carried out." Mr Jones has been running Wearside Glass Sculptures from the glass centre and said the venue's opening in the late 1990s helped save glassmaking in Sunderland. "Prior to that we were really struggling. Everybody was. "A lot of people were closing down, but once we got to the glass centre the work came to us. "If we hadn't come in here, we wouldn't be working with glass. We might have lasted another year, but we would've had to move on and do other things."Mr Jones, who started out as an apprentice at Pyrex when he was 15, said the NGC's closure put glassmaking in the city at risk of extinction. Sunderland Culture, which will run replacement Glassworks, previously said it would work to ensure its facilities are fit for purpose and said there had been "good progress" on the plans. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Waterford's Glassworks 'first commercial property to be developed in city in over 20 years'
This week's launch of a flagship office building on the Kilbarry Waterford City site of the legendary crystal plant is a 'historic but important moment in the history of the Glassworks site and the first commercial property to be developed in Waterford in over 20 years'. That's according to letting agents Cushman & Wakefield of the €43m Building One, the advance offer at a proposed €130m, 37-acre enterprise and innovation campus linking industry with South East Technological University (SETU) academic and research facilities. 'Building One', the initial 80,000 sq ft flagship office building of the Glassworks University Enterprise Quarter, is expected to open by Q3 2025 Space at the 80,000sq ft Building One, with floor plates of 17,000sq ft and planned to run free of fossil fuels, is expected to come on stream from Q3 2025 at rents of €32.50psf, with scope for 800 employees. The larger enterprise and innovation campus will accommodate up to 6,000 employees. At its peak in the 1980s, Waterford Crystal employed up to 3,000. The crystal works finally ceased production in 2009, after 62 years, while the undeveloped site since continued to have an enormous significance for the South East region. Crystal clear: entrance foyer of 'Building One' Part of the ambitious Glassworks campus masterplan — to include a 580-bed student accommodation element on an adjacent site — the building is in a pivotal location beside SETU, the IDA business & technology park and the IDA industrial park. Building One will be Waterford's first purpose-built, BER A3-rated office building, meeting LEED Gold and WiredScore Gold standards. Now under advanced construction, Building One is being developed in a joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the second-generation family Waterford-based developers. Cushman & Wakefield are agents for the joint venture scheme, which includes core partner SETU. As a link to the site's legendary crystal manufacturing legacy, Building One incorporates the former Waterford Crystal showrooms, remodelled as offices, with two dedicated ground-floor access points plus strong profile onto the Cork Rd. 'ISIF's commitment to Building One is an example of its double bottom line mandate at work, investing on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in the State,' said ISIF director, Nick Ashmore. Further purpose-built buildings allow for enterprise, research, and students 'meeting the same stringent sustainability standards as Building One,' it was stated at this week's formal launch. Building One's flexible floor plates range from 1,400sq ft to 17,000sq ft, with double-height entrance lobby, two lifts, parking, EV charging points, concierge service, cycle storage, and shower facilities, along with landscaped public spaces including seating. The development team say that elements of the new education and enterprise-led development pick up reference points from university enterprise quarters such as the University of Nottingham's Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri. The Glassworks launch is 'a defining moment for the region and Ireland as a whole,' said SETU president Veronica Campbell. 'Glassworks will play a pivotal role in Ireland's knowledge economy where students, startups, and researchers can collaborate, test ideas, and create the next generation of ground-breaking products, technologies, and businesses,' she said. Building One is being let by Peter O'Flynn and Siobhán Young of Cushman & Wakefield. DETAILS: Cushman & Wakefield 021 4275454
The Journal
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Former Waterford Crystal site to become part of enterprise centre on university campus
THE FORMER WATERFORD Crystal manufacturing site is to become part of the country's first co-located university enterprise quarter. A 37-acre 'Glassworks' site will be established as part of the €130m plan, featuring offices beside the South East Technological University's (SETU) academic and research facilities. The site will develop to have capacity for up to 6,000 employees, and planning permission has also been granted for a 582-student bed development on adjacent land. It is hoped it can help to improve economic growth, research and education in Waterford and the wider south-east region. The move comes 16 years after crystal manufacturing ended at the Kilbarry site. It has been described as taking inspiration from successful international university enterprise quarters such as the University of Nottingham's Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri, US. SETU President Professor Veronica Campbell said Glassworks' launch is a 'defining moment for the region and Ireland as a whole'. Advertisement 'Glassworks will play a pivotal role in Ireland's knowledge economy, where students, start-ups and researchers can collaborate, test ideas and create the next generation of ground-breaking products, technologies and businesses,' she said. The first commercial building is being developed with a €43m investment by a joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers. Frisby director Noel Frisby Jr said: 'The crystal factory brought Waterford to the world and now Glassworks will bring the world to Waterford. 'This is a place where research, creativity and business ambition can thrive, and where our regional economy will continue to grow.' Building One, the initial 80,000 square foot flagship office building, is expected to open by the end of the year with capacity for 800 employees, Director of ISIF Nick Ashmore said: 'Glassworks will create unique opportunities for both local and international businesses and act as a cornerstone for the south east's future development. 'ISIF's commitment to Building One is an example of its double bottom line mandate at work, investing on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in the state. 'This joint venture, as part of ISIF's city-specific investment programme, will support investment in Waterford as well as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kilkenny, in the form of new places to work, to live and enabling investments to support these regions.'
Belfast Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Waterford Crystal site to become university enterprise quarter
A 37-acre Glassworks site will be established as part of the 130 million euro initiative, featuring world-class offices beside the South East Technological University's (SETU) academic and research facilities. It is hoped it will act as an engine for high-quality employment, economic growth, research and education in Waterford and the wider south-east region. The site will develop to have capacity for up to 6,000 employees, and planning permission has also been granted for a 582-student bed development on adjacent land. The move comes 16 years after crystal manufacturing ended at the Kilbarry site, It has been described as taking inspiration from successful international university enterprise quarters such as the University of Nottingham's Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri, US. SETU president Professor Veronica Campbell said Glassworks' launch is a 'defining moment for the region and Ireland as a whole'. 'Glassworks will play a pivotal role in Ireland's knowledge economy, where students, start-ups and researchers can collaborate, test ideas and create the next generation of ground-breaking products, technologies and businesses,' she said. The first commercial building is being developed with a 43 million euro investment by a joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers. Frisby director Noel Frisby Jr said: 'The crystal factory brought Waterford to the world and now Glassworks will bring the world to Waterford. 'This is a place where research, creativity and business ambition can thrive, and where our regional economy will continue to grow.' Building One, the initial 80,000 square foot flagship office building, is expected to open by the end of the year with capacity for 800 employees, Director of ISIF, Nick Ashmore, added: 'Glassworks will create unique opportunities for both local and international businesses and act as a cornerstone for the south east's future development. 'ISIF's commitment to Building One is an example of its double bottom line mandate at work, investing on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in the state. 'This joint venture, as part of ISIF's city-specific investment programme, will support investment in Waterford as well as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kilkenny, in the form of new places to work, to live and enabling investments to support these regions.'
BreakingNews.ie
10-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Former Waterford Crystal site to become university enterprise quarter
The former Waterford Crystal manufacturing site is to be transformed into part of the country's first co-located university enterprise quarter. A 37-acre Glassworks site will be established as part of the €130 million initiative, featuring world-class offices beside the South East Technological University's (SETU) academic and research facilities. Advertisement It is hoped it will act as an engine for high-quality employment, economic growth, research and education in Waterford and the wider south-east region. The site will develop to have capacity for up to 6,000 employees, and planning permission has also been granted for a 582-student bed development on adjacent land. The move comes 16 years after crystal manufacturing ended at the Kilbarry site. It has been described as taking inspiration from successful international university enterprise quarters such as the University of Nottingham's Innovation Park and the Cortex innovation district in St Louis, Missouri, US. Advertisement SETU president Professor Veronica Campbell said Glassworks' launch is a 'defining moment for the region and Ireland as a whole'. 'Glassworks will play a pivotal role in Ireland's knowledge economy, where students, start-ups and researchers can collaborate, test ideas and create the next generation of ground-breaking products, technologies and businesses,' she said. The first commercial building is being developed with a €43 million investment by a joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and Frisby, the Waterford-based developers. Frisby director Noel Frisby Jr said: 'The crystal factory brought Waterford to the world and now Glassworks will bring the world to Waterford. Advertisement 'This is a place where research, creativity and business ambition can thrive, and where our regional economy will continue to grow.' Building One, the initial 80,000 square foot flagship office building, is expected to open by the end of the year with capacity for 800 employees. Director of ISIF, Nick Ashmore, added: 'Glassworks will create unique opportunities for both local and international businesses and act as a cornerstone for the south east's future development. 'ISIF's commitment to Building One is an example of its double bottom line mandate at work, investing on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in the state. Advertisement 'This joint venture, as part of ISIF's city-specific investment programme, will support investment in Waterford as well as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Kilkenny, in the form of new places to work, to live and enabling investments to support these regions.'
