The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) proudly looks back on a long history of supporting activities in the arts, sciences, sports, agriculture and industry. As an institution, the RDS has therefore become an essential part of Dublin’s and Ireland’s cultural and sporting life, but is also increasingly well-known beyond national boundaries. The RDS has engaged in a process of continual improvement, enhancement and expansion of its fields of activity.

Building on this heritage, the new Anglesea Stand will be a substantial improvement. It represents a significant investment in its facilities and it will support the RDS in its continued journey. Beyond providing a fully functional facility, the proposal will create a vibrant environment to enrich the experience for visitors and competitors alike. It will enable future development that will help to keep the Royal Dublin Society ahead of the game and will be of great benefit to Dublin City and the region.

The brief called for a stand that could adapt to the many uses of the site. These include the home to Leinster rugby during the winter season, the annual horse show in the summer, while also being a facility for concerts and events throughout the year.

The development of the New Anglesea Grandstand will act as a catalyst for the improvement of connections and circulation across the wider RDS site. The proposal aims to significantly improve connectivity between the north and the south of the site by allowing a great amount of permeability across the immediate development site as well as through the structure of the grandstand building itself. The main spectator accommodation of the New Anglesea Stand will be focused on the distance between the dead ball lines of the rugby pitch, which will be significantly shorter than the existing stand. This allows for the creation of two important new public spaces to either end of the new development.

The two tier arrangement of the seating ranks allows for enclosed hospitality spaces on the first floor level enjoying a dual aspect. These spaces in particular interact fully with both pitch-side and judging rings.

The vision for the new development at the RDS will afford the visitor the highest degree of participation in and immersion into the widest range of events to be staged, all in a substantially enhanced environment.

This ambition does not only drive the event itself. The new facility will encourage the visitors to arrive on site early and leave for home long after the event, enjoying a whole day out at the RDS. The New Anglesea Stand will therefore provide a true and all-round centrepiece, appropriate for the grounds of the Royal Dublin Society, and suitable for all types of event held here.