Arcadia Spring 2021

INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE FROM HAMILTON ARCHITECTS SPRING 2021

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Season of Hope as Lockdown Lifts...

Welcome to the first edition in 2021 of Arcadia, the official magazine of Hamilton Architects. The last 12 months have been challenging, to say the least, but with the lifting of lockdown underway, we can look forward to a return to something like normal life and increased momentum in every sector.

It goes without saying that our profession has faced a number of difficulties over the past 12 months, as projects have slowed or stalled.

But we are proud to say that the Hamilton team have successfully worked remotely to deliver important projects in Northern Ireland, as well as farther afield.

In this edition, we are particularly proud to showcase our work on Erne Campus for South West College in Enniskillen (right).

The new, £29m campus, has the distinction of being both the first Passive House Premium public building in Ireland and the first educational facility of its type in the UK.

We give full credit, not just to our own staff team, but to our clients, stakeholders and a wide range of service providers, in surmounting every obstacle with outstanding professionalism to ensure continuity of service on all our projects, but particularly muchneeded schools, hospitals and community facilities.

This 8,000sqm state-of-the-art campus, situated on an elevated site overlooking the Erne River, will open its doors to students this autumn. It has already won the BREEAM Public Sector – Design Stage Award against fierce competition across the UK. We hope you enjoy reading about this, and other, exciting Hamilton projects in the new edition of Arcadia.

Photograph c Hamilton Architects 2021

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Partners Mark Haslett (front left), Paul Millar (front right), Graeme Ogle and Michelle Canning.

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It’s Official! South West College is a Passive House Premium World First The £30m Erne Campus of South West College, designed by Hamilton Architects, is officially the world’s first educational – and currently the largest – Passive House Premium rated building.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds announced the accreditation while visiting the 8,000sqm state-of-the-art project in Enniskillen, which opens to 800 full-time and 2,000 part-time students and 120 staff in September.

Erne Campus is the first building in the UK to achieve both PHP status from the Passive House Institute in Germany and BREEAM outstanding accreditations. It also recently won a BREEAM Public Sector Project Design Stage Award.

Making the announcement during a visit, the Minister said: “I am delighted to see the excellent progress made on this stunning new further education campus, which is an iconic new asset for South West College and the wider Enniskillen area.”

Mark Haslett, Hamilton Partner and lead designer, said: “Erne Campus was a challenging project, not least because of its size and complexity there is not much room for error at PHP status level.

“We are delighted the project has reached all its design and energy targets and has been recognised for the excellence of that achievement.

It is a world leader and hopefully the first of many such projects in education and beyond.”

Delivery of the project provided employment for over 200 people, including a number of apprenticeship opportunities, representing a major economic boost for the South West region.

Project Architect Peter Carr said: “There were a lot of competing requirements in terms of providing the correct level of >

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Photograph c Hamilton Architects 2021

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>accommodation for the school body, satisfying the college’s sustainability aspirations, obtaining planning permissions and meeting building control regulations.”

To achieve Passive House Premium status and become ‘Carbon Zero’ a building is required to achieve very high standards of insulation, including high levels of air tightness which have had to be monitored throughout the building process.

Peter added: “Ultimately, however, it will mean that South West College will enjoy very low energy usage, particularly in heating costs, which will reduce to practically zero. That will represent a huge saving that can be used for other things.”

“South West College will enjoy very low energy usage, particularly in heating costs, which will reduce to practically zero. That will represent a huge saving that can be used for other things.”

The sustainability strategy includes photo voltaic panels on the roof, heat exchangers, bio fuel boiler, water collection and recycling, and electric car charging points in the car parks.

Photographs c Hamilton Architects 2021

While most of the internal space is dedicated to classrooms, there is an impressive atrium with areas for informal engagement. Needless to say, the very latest digital technology will be available to staff and students.

SWC Chief Executive Michael McAlister said they took great pride in this significant sustainability milestone, which had been central to the Erne Campus from the earliest stages of planning.

“Renewable energy and sustainability have been at the forefront of college delivery for several years, both in terms of the curriculum we offer to students and our own construction practices,” he said.

“The world-class Erne campus will deliver a unique curriculum, education and a training programme specialising in renewable energy and sustainability in a live working environment. We hope that in this way we can also advance sustainability in construction across these islands and beyond.”

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Project News | Bushmills Courthouse

Creative Hub to breathe new life into Bushmills Courthouse Plans have been submitted for the new Creative Hub for Enterprise Causeway on the site of the old Bushmills Courthouse, with work scheduled to begin on site in September.

The hub, which has secured more than €5m funding via the Interreg Peace IV initiative, will offer a vibrant creative space for like-minded designer-makers to work collaboratively to ‘make, market, educate and support’.

The Co Antrim village of Bushmills, originally known as Portcaman, dates from Norman times and is famous for the Old Bushmills Distillery, which welcomes around 120,000 visitors every year.

additional 1,200sqm of space carefully designed to complement the Grade B1 listed Georgian building.

The ground floor will be expressed in Indian granite, referencing the basalt prevalent

“The hub will offer a vibrant creative space for like-minded designer-makers to work collaboratively to make, market, educate and support.”

The courthouse was constructed in 1834 by the Macnaghten family of nearby Dundarave House and served as a Petty Session Court, cell house and accommodation for local police.

It has been derelict since the Sixties.

throughout the Causeway Coast & Glens area, along with a cantilever on the same level to maximise outdoor space and facilitate the creation of a community garden.

In the new design, an extension with rendered walls and a pitched zinc roof will provide an

The courthouse itself will be carefully restored with new traditional timber sliding sash

windows, lime rendered elevations and a traditional ‘ruled-and-lined’ rendered ground floor to the front elevation. The unique natural stone classical porch will be sensitively repaired.

Set to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, there will be space for 13 micro businesses, café and retail space. A large subdividable space on the top floor with views of the River Bush provides a large multi-purpose space.

The plan dedicates around 300sqm (a quarter of the floor area) to provision of ‘Shared Space’ activities which focus on community cohesion and the development of new ideas and skills.

Enterprise Causeway’s vision for the project is re-energise the community, create new jobs and build a new peaceful and prosperous economy for people across the Causeway Coast and Glen Borough and border area.

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Project News | Enniskillen Workhouse

£2.1m transformation of Grade B2 Enniskillen Workhouse underway...

A glazed lobby at the rear will mark an entrance from South West College.

Project delivered by Hamilton Architects for Kriterion Conservation Architects

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Work has started onsite on the Grade B2 listed Enniskillen Workhouse, one of the town’s most historic buildings. A £2.1m transformation will provide a heritage centre and business hub. A ‘heritage route’ on the ground floor will provide access to rooms with the most historic character, while a glazed lobby at the rear will mark an entrance from South West College.

A new lift and staircase extension will provide access to a first-floor business hub, while original courtyards will be reinstated for use as a gallery and events space.

Minister Cuts First Sod on Limavady SEC Education Minister Peter Weir has cut the first sod to begin work on the £11m Limavady Shared Education Campus, designed by Hamilton Architects.

Minister Weir said: “The first building blocks were the school relationships. This new investment will have positive impacts for Limavady High, St Mary’s and the wider community.”

Hamilton’s design for the new campus will be delivered in two phases: a single-storey STEM campus at Limavady High School, followed by a two-storey shared Sixth Form campus at St Mary’s High School in the town.

Project News | Ulidia College

The concept harmonises the building with the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside.

D&B contract out to tender for new £19m school in Carrick Planning permission has been granted for Ulidia Integrated College in Carrickfergus and the design & build contract is currently out to tender. It is anticipated that work will start on site around the end of November. Around 700 pupils will be accommodated in 43 classrooms in the new three-storey school. The 10,314sq metre building will be constructed over two phases – the new school and pitch, followed by the demolition of the existing building and completion of site works.

Project News | Glenwood PS

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In Wilshere’s footsteps - making our mark with a £11.5m historic school project for west Belfast Hamilton Architects are at initial design stage in a contract to deliver an £11.5m project for Glenwood Primary School in the Woodvale area of Belfast.

Project Architect Dominique Megarry said: “One of our biggest challenges will be to design something that meets the requirements of a modern educational facility while respecting the integrity of the original listed building and retaining as many unique historic features as possible.”

The original Grade B1 listed red-brick building was designed by the renowned school architect RS Wilshere (left), but the school has been expanded greatly since it was constructed in 1928.

The early school comprised four rectangular blocks orientated around a central, open-air courtyard. A two-storey extension was constructed in the 1960s, with further additions expanding the accommodation since then.

Hamilton Architects will lead the team which will refurbish the listed building and replace the Sixties extension to provide two learning support centres and a Special Education Needs unit encompassing 3,563m2.

The school will remain fully operational on the existing site until completion of the works. Wilshere, who was from Essex, took over responsibility for building Belfast’s schools in 1926 and is remembered for his much-celebrated designs in the 20s and 30s.

His team were skilful in a number of architectural styles and are credited with having built the first modern movement style schools anywhere in Ireland.

Among the 26 schools which he delivered are Strandtown, Elmgrove, Avoniel and Nettlefield Primary Schools and Sydenham Infants’ School in east Belfast, McQuiston Memorial PS in Donegall Pass and Botanic PS in south Belfast.

Glenwood Primary School as it still looks today (above) and how it looked in 1930 (the Irish Builder and Engineer).

Photo - Tony Mairs Photography

Project News | Sport & Leisure

Hamilton lead the Team on Phase 2 of £14m Girdwood Development

Everything to play for at the Oval!

Hamilton Architects have won the contract to lead an Integrated Consultant Team for the delivery of Phase 2 of Girdwood Leisure Complex in Belfast.

Hamilton Architects are designing two new all-seater stands for Glentoran Football Club at the Oval in east Belfast.

The project is part of Belfast City Council’s £105m Leisure Transformation Programme, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the city by ensuring that everyone has access to state-of-the-art leisure facilities.

Girdwood lies next to the Antrim and Crumlin Roads and is bounded by residential properties, the Crumlin Road Gaol and school playing fields. The estimated construction works contract value of the project is in the region of £14-£16m.

Phase 1 delivered a Girdwood Community Hub building, mixed use pitch and housing. Phase 2 includes the delivery of a new leisure facility on the site with three high level options under consideration.

An Outline Business Case will further test these options, while Hamilton is leading an ICT in developing concept designs which are currently subject to further consultation and, potentially, exploration of further options.

The proposal is to demolish the existing spectator stand, which was constructed in 1952, and replace it with two new 4,000 capacity all seater stands. The existing standing terracing at goal ends, which date back to the 1900s, will be reconfigured to accommodate 2,000 spectators.

The new design would retain the characteristic oval shape while enhancing the spectator viewing with new terracing and crush barriers. New turnstiles, additional car parking, improved circulation routes and an artificial 3G pitch have also been proposed.

A top-notch fitness and medical centre will be integrated into the new grandstand, allowing users to access the same high-quality sporting analysis and fitness equipment utilised by players and coaches. Several additional spaces will be integrated into the design to offer high quality conferencing and function facilities, with the potential for community use.

The plan, which is currently out for consultation, will cost £11m£12m to deliver.

Project News | Mary Queen of Peace PS

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1 63 WC / Cloaks 16 m²

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St Mary’s and Glenravel equal Perfect Peace!

68 Store 5 m²

67 WC / Cloaks 16 m²

62 Classroom (KS2) 60 m²

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65 Resource Area 38 m²

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66 Classroom (KS2) 60 m²

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61 Classroom (KS2) 60 m²

Included are formal play areas on both hard and soft surfaces and an external play store for equipment, along with 29 parking spaces for staff and visitors and a designated drop-off area for junior school.

A footpath will created to establish a walking route from the main road into Martinstown, linking the school with its local community.

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59 Store 5 m²

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50 Male Pupil WC 7 m²

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54 Plant Room 9 m²

75 Switch Room 6 m²

83 Staff Change 5 m²

86 Cleaners Store 3 m² 85 Corridor F 8 m²

55 Mat Store 11 m²

88 Table / Chair Store 16 m²

56 PE Equipment Store 15 m²

57 Adult Chair Store 10 m²

48 Male Pupil Changing 11 m²

58 Stage Store 11 m²

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80 Kitchen 53 m²

36 Cloaks 29 m²

37 Store 5 m²

47 Corridor C 10 m²

7 82 Dry Goods 5 m²

49 Female Pupil WC 7 m²

87 Office 3 m² 40 Corridor A 27 m²

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38 Store 5 m²

46 Hygiene Room 11 m²

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45 Female Pupil Changing 11 m² 81 Cold Store 9 m²

41 Manifold Cupboard 2 m²

53 Multi Purpose Hall 161 m²

43 44 Staff WC 02 Staff WC 01 3 m² 3 m²

76 77 Staff WC 04 42 Staff WC 03 3 m² Acc WC 3 m² 4 m²

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The multi-purpose hall, with a full product kitchen adjacent, acts as a formal dining room. There are also three large resource areas and a central glazed octagon which engages the interior of the school with the outdoors. A series of staff facilities is provided, including three multi-purpose rooms.

74 Corridor E 8 m²

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A bespoke design pays tribute to the building’s rural vernacular. A distinctive barn style multi -purpose hall is prominent in the landscape, with classroom blocks in subtle pitched roof echoing the area’s traditional housing.

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51 Multi Purpose Room 3 14 m² 60 WC / Cloaks 15 m²

The proposed development will facilitate the amalgamation of two existing schools, St Mary’s Primary of Cargan and Glenravel Primary of Martinstown.

69 Manifold Cupboard 1 m²

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Hamilton Architects have been granted planning approval for a nine classroom, 1,975m2, school building for 250 pupils at Mary Queen of Peace Primary School at Glenravel, Ballymena.

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The proposed development will facilitate the amalgamation of St Mary’s Primary of Cargan and Glenravel Primary of Martinstown

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28 Resource Store 4 m²

24 Cleaners Store 15 m²

31 Classroom (KS1) 60 m² 26 Corridor B 29 m² 23 Medical Room 29 m²

06 Staff Room 41 m²

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24 29 Store 5 m² 08 Store 6 m²

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22 Multi Purpose Room 2 14 m²

30 WC / Cloaks 29 m²

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07 Multi Purpose Room 1 34 m²

21 Consumable Store 6 m²

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Practice News | Update

Hamilton welcomes new Director of Conservation Hamilton Architects are delighted to welcome a new member of the team as our Director of Conservation – Ben Aston.

Ben, who hails from London via Manchester, is a Specialist Conservation Architect with 22 years’ experience of working on listed buildings up to Grade 1, ranging from pure conservation, through to alteration and creative reuse.

experienced and talented colleagues,” said Ben. “We currently have exciting live projects across a number of sectors which combine conservation work with high-quality new design. I’m looking forward to making the most of these challenges to deliver the best results for our clients.

“It’s also an exciting time to be in Belfast and Northern Ireland and to be part of the continuing drive to transform the city, drawing upon its culture and using new investment to make the best use of the historic environment.”

Ben has vast experience which includes working alongside councils, charities and public bodies across the UK, including National Trust, St Andrew’s University, The British Library and the Ministry of Justice, on projects ranging in value from £5m to £328m.

He has produced iconic award-winning projects which have rejuvenated historic buildings, such as the recentlycompleted ‘The Box’ museum in RIGHT Plymouth and the RIBA award-winning Odhran Dunne, head of Visit Derry, and Central Library Liverpool, as well as his team outside the newin tourism facility.

Masterplans for clients like Trinity FAR RIGHT The exhibitions provide a gateway for the College Dublin. exploration of the whole North West.

“It is a pleasure to join the team at Hamilton Architects and have the opportunity to work alongside Photos | Courtesy of Visit Derry

He is highly skilled in achieving a balance between the demands of new uses and the preservation of historic fabric to ensure that statutory approvals can be successfully achieved.

These skills will be invaluable in helping him to deliver current projects including Newry Town Hall and Theatre, Bushmills Courthouse and Enniskillen Workhouse (for Hamilton sister company, Kriterion Conservation Architects).

Top: Ben Aston Director of Conservation Above: Central Library Liverpool Left: ‘The Box’ museum in Plymouth

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Hamilton – Top of the Class for Designs in Education

We are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Ask an Architect, organised by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects and the Jill Todd Trust. In return for a donation towards cancer research, members of the public get an hour-long consultation with a chartered architect about a building project, real or prospective. To book a session with us before the end of May, click on: ask an architect: Hamilton Architects

In with the old, in with the new...

Hamilton Architects are recognised as one of Ireland’s foremost designers of large and small education facilities – including the latest, the Passive House Premium South West College in Enniskillen.

The global pandemic has unveiled and accelerated trends that will have lasting impact on the built environment and architecture of Belfast, says Partner Paul Millar in our latest blog.

The time will soon come when the city must consider the shape of post-pandemic regeneration and, as regeneration in architectural terms is re-design closely linked to reflecting a sense of place, defining exactly what that means for Belfast is crucial.

Click here to read more

Our Education Portfolio includes state-ofthe-art facilities like the Canterbury Christ Church University STEHM building, Ireland’s first Passive House Premium building - South West College - and Grade B1 listed Riddel Hall Executive Education Centre.

We are versed in providing educational buildings which require high specification, bespoke technical accommodation, include SERC Performing Arts & Technology Innovation Centre, North West Regional Science Park CoLab, and the

School of Mathematics and Physics for Queen’s University Belfast.

If you want to know more about our expertise in creating stunning education facilities, just click on this link to access our Education Portfolio brochure

Coming soon – the Hamilton Architects Conservation Brochure!

London

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