Updated 8.53am

DUBLIN INSTITUTE OF Technology’s new Grangegorman campus is officially open for business (or learning, at least) from today.

It follows a multi-million euro redevelopment of the site, including the restoration of a number of protected 19th century structures.

The site will accommodate as many as 10,000 students by 2017, and the full 20,000 upon completion in 2020.

For now, it will be the academic home to 1,000 students from areas such as art, design, photography and social science, as well as 200 academic and support staff.

In September next year, the college’s Environment Sustainability and Health Institute and a ‘business incubation and technology transfer office’ will open. Both are already under construction.

The next major project will be two academic quads, at a cost of €180 million.

The project was part of a €2 billion stimulus package announced by Government in 2012. RTÉ News reports that the total cost of the campus will be €550 million.

Paschal Donohoe, speaking during his time as Minister for European Affairs, said:

This project, which was the flagship of the stimulus plan launched by the Government in July 2012, is set to radically change the face of Dublin’s north inner city, during the construction phase and beyond

Donohoe said 3,500 construction jobs would be created, and the campus would provide a significant boost for local businesses.

Read: New DIT campus will ‘radically change the face of Dublin’s north inner city’ >