Arcadia Autumn 2021

INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE FROM HAMILTON ARCHITECTS AUTUMN 2021

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"Hamilton Architects is delighted to have been the creative influence and designers for this wonderful building. We wish the staff and students well in their new campus and we applaud the client body and funders for their vision, foresight and drive" Paul Millar

Click here for a video of the the project

Pictured at the official opening of the new South West College campus building are : Paul Millar, Partner, Hamilton Architects (right) pictured with (from left): Dr Nicholas O’Shiel (Chair Michael McAlister (Chief Executive, South West College); Economy Minister Gordon Lyons; MC Sarah Travers; and Cllr Errol Thompson (Chairperson, Fermanagh and Omagh District Cou

of SWC Governing Body); uncil).

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All to play for as we get set to leave 2021 behind…

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

As we head into winter, we can take some satisfaction from a buoyant design sector and a professional life that is continuing to return to something more like normality, with staff back at their desks and some face-to-face meetings resuming.

Working at home, for at least part of the time, and virtual meetings which cut out the hassle of travel, will remain part of all our working weeks for the foreseeable future - but there is no doubt that human connection is an important element in the creative process.

The good news is that outlook for the sector is favourable, with construction output in Northern Ireland predicted to enjoy an annual average growth of 3% over the next five years - higher than the UK rate of 2.5% driven mainly by the commercial sector and government investment.

That is not to say, of course, that there are not serious issues to wrestle with - a shortage of construction materials, rising costs, a lack of HGV drivers, interruptions in the supply chain, and a steep increase in the cost of professional indemnity insurance, to name but a few.

Church University STEHM building; and the iconic School House for Methodist College, Belfast.

The team, having delivered the world’s first educational – and currently the largest – PHP building for Erne, will be applying many of those design principles to new education projects like St Louis Grammar in Kilkeel; Bird College, London; and St Killian’s on the Antrim Coast.

Other important projects currently underway include a fantastic new terminal facility for Stena at Belfast Port; an ambitious shared space for the whole community at Newforge; and a masterplan for Ballymena Showgrounds for a 6,500 capacity stadium which is set to become a centre of excellence for football.

2022 marks a very special year for Hamilton Architects – our 50th anniversary as one of Hamilton Architects have enjoyed a Northern Ireland’s longest running and most successful year which has seen the successful practices. More about that in due completion of several key projects in the course! In the meantime, the Partners hope education sector – the Passive House you enjoy reading about these and Premium Erne Campus of South West other exciting projects in the new College (see left); the £65m Canterbury Christ edition of Arcadia.

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The School House at Methody sees a new term - and a new lease of life The School House at Methodist College, Belfast, has welcomed students into its classrooms for the autumn term after a £7m redesign.

The redesign and refurbishment of this historic building, which dates back to 1865, delivered new teaching facilities and administration offices to accommodate a growing student enrolment.

Crucial historical features, including the Tudoresque entrance, ornate oak-lined reception and original central staircase with heavy timber balustrade, were protected and preserved as an essential element of the project.

“Methody is a beloved Belfast landmark and we were delighted to deliver a new design for this distinguished building while preserving its unique and important historic features,” said Paul Millar, Partner.

A stately space for large scale meetings and conferences

Photograph c Hamilton Architects 2021

“Our challenge was to preserve the external fabric of the School House, along with important internal features, while creating an environment which is fit for modern education purposes and meets regulatory requirements.”

Around 300 students and staff moved temporarily into other school buildings when work began onsite in September 2017. The lockdown led to delays in completion of the

project, which was funded by the Department of Education, until August this year.

Partner and Senior Project Architect Graeme Ogle said that every building of the antiquity of Methody School House carries the potential >

of presenting a number of challenges which are unforeseen at the start of the project.

“The reuse of the building, and reuse of the building fabric, were important not just in sustainability and recycling terms, but also in maintaining the historic integrity and character of the Queen’s Conservation Area,” said Graeme.

“Through the provision of two small extensions to the rear of the School House, we were able to provide repurposed and new teaching accommodation and circulation areas which meet the requirements of a modern curriculum.”

Methodist College, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2018, has over 1,800 students and 200 staff. The school, which sits on 15 acres of land, opened on 18th August 1868 with 141 pupils. It was founded partly for the training of Methodist ministers and partly as a school for boys.

Money for the project, described at the time as “a most important step in the progress of education in Ireland” was raised from the 23,000 Methodists then on the island of Ireland, along with help from England and America.

The 2008 film City of Ember used the school, particularly the Whitla Hall, as a location, and in 2015 the McArthur Hall was used as a film location for The Lost City of Z, starring Robert Pattinson. Alumni include Barry Douglas, Sammy Wilson, Glenn Patterson, Jimmy Ellis and Julian Simmons.

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Left hand page: Top, the School House; Bottom, an attic classroom.

This page: Top left, Staff Room; Top right, Drama Centre; Bottom, the sympathetic new extension.

Photograph c Hamilton Architects 2021

Project News | Victoria Terminal

All Aboard for a Fantastic New Terminal Facility!

Hamilton Architects are currently carrying out the refurbishment and extension of Victoria Terminal 2 at Belfast Port for Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The project is necessitated to accommodate increased Stena Line passenger numbers on the Belfast route following the introduction of larger ferries.

The design will facilitate better traffic flow with a new exit, one-way traffic system, bigger dropoff/pick-up point, extra car check-in lane, and increased standage area.

Two extensions to the existing terminal building will accommodate a new entrance foyer to the

south, and a new covered car check-in, security area and baggage reclaim to the north.

enhancement programme of Stena Line’s Irish Sea services.

The passenger lounge will be refurbished to provide a self-service check-in and reception desk, and a departures area with new toilet and cafe facilities.

Joe O’Neill, CEO of Belfast Harbour, said a multi-million pound investment had been made in the ferry terminal to facilitate the new larger Stena vessels.

“Our investment strategy aims to ensure that we provide the best facilities to our port users and tenants,” he said. “We look forward to partnering with Stena in the years ahead to support their ongoing success.”

The facility will remain operational throughout the scheme, which completes late next summer.

The launch of the Stena Edda in 2020 and the Stena Embla in 2021 on the Belfast route marks an important milestone in the ongoing

Project News | Newforge HAMILTON ARCHITECTS | ARCADIA 9

Ambitious Project Transforms Newforge into a Shared Space Construction is progressing well on the visionary Newforge Community Development Trust Shared Space scheme, with Hamilton Architects leading the Integrated Consultancy Team.

This ambitious project aims to create a more cohesive society by transforming a restricted space in south Belfast into a shared space which will make a major direct contribution to peace and reconciliation throughout Northern Ireland and the cross-border region The project is supported by €5.8m of funding from the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, with match-funding provided by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, the Department of

Rural and Community Development in Ireland, and £1m of funding from Sport Northern Ireland’s MultiFacility Fund.

NCDT Shared Space: Phase 2 sports facility is a new build facility which will be located on existing NCDT lands at Newforge Lane, Belfast.

The centre will comprise staff and visitor parking, reception foyer, Changing Places toilet, toilets, first aid room, offices, sports hall and associated changing provisions, refreshment area, staff kitchen, strength, conditioning & fitness suite, multi-purpose rooms, stores, and ancillaries.

The new state-of-the-art complex aims to facilitate coexistence between members of the community and

members (past and present) of the security, emergency and armed forces across the island.

Participation is expected from community groups, youth groups, schools, churches, sports clubs, and local residents on a crosscommunity basis. The project also aims to obtain Disability Sport NI’s Inclusive Sports Facility (ISF) Excellence mark for new sports facilities.

As Economic Operator, Hamilton Architects are taking the lead in all consultations with local stakeholders, supported by Council staff, and in obtaining necessary approvals and consents.

Completion is expected in 2022.

Project News | Ballymena Show grounds | McWhinney Hall

Everything to play for at Ballymena to new masterplan for a 6,500 cap

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Showgrounds thanks pacity stadium

Make Way for McWhinney Mark 2!

An ambitious masterplan for Ballymena Showgrounds, on behalf of Mid and East Antrim Council, is currently out to public consultation and includes: • One covered stand with a capacity of 1,512 at the 'Fisherwick End' of the stadium • One uncovered stand with a capacity of 1,400 with standing/rail seating capability at the Warden Street end of the arena • The covered stand would incorporate a fitness suite, function rooms & offices to enhance onsite provision for Ballymena United and any potential Irish FA Centre of Excellence • Alterations to the existing stands to incorporate enhanced media & VIP provision • A new hybrid grass playing surface to aid grass recovery and maximise its usage • High quality artificial pitches to intermediate league standard with covered spectator stands • High quality grass pitches to facilitate Ballymena United training • A central boulevard from the main car park to access the arena, incorporating a hard surface ‘fan zone’ area to facilitate food provision and merchandise • A covered 3G pitch inside a covered dome to facilitate all-weather, indoor training, which can be viewed from a social space/gallery area within the new ‘Fisherwick End’ stand

The redevelopment and new-look facility would be an “enormous asset” for the sport in Northern Ireland as well as providing a potential location and home for an Irish FA centre of excellence for women’s football.

Mayor Councillor William McCaughey said: “Sport, particularly football within Mid and East Antrim, plays a key role in ensuring active healthy lifestyles, community participation, engagement and civic pride. This is an ambitious plan but one we are really supportive of.”

“The plans are most impressive,” said Councillor Matthew Armstrong, Deputy Mayor. “What has been proposed would make the stadium one of, if not the, premier provincial facility and be of tremendous value to football, sport and the wider community.”

Pending the support of the local community, it will be a matter of engaging with the Irish FA and other stakeholders to try and source funding for the project from the Department for Communities.

“The project is dependent on Stormont funding, but the work undertaken to date in developing these plans has been very impressive and we hope others share our passion for the project,” added Cllr Armstrong.

Construction has started on a £1.3m project at McWhinney Memorial Hall at Ards Community Hospital, Newtownards.

The extension and refurbishment will provide new meeting room suites, an adjoining breakout area for large events, and high specification refurbishment of the main hall.

The hospital has its origins in the Newtownards Union Workhouse which was designed by George Wilkinson and completed in December 1841.

In 2016, it was used for the filming of the BBC/RTE television series Dublin Murders.

Work started in July with the demolition of the existing wraparound blocks to make way for new construction. Completion is expected in late April 2022.

Project News | SWC Opening

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Top of the class, Top of the World!

1. The £30m Erne Campus of South West College 2. Economy Minister Gordon Lyons 3. From left, Pat Mullan of esc construction consultants; Cormac Freehill of Bennett Freehill; Peter Carr of Hamilton Architects 4. A hi-tech computer suite 5. Minister Lyons with Arlene Foster MLA 6. Eimear Grugan, Project Sponsor in the modern restaurant facility 7. The campus will accommodate 2,800 full and part-time students

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Project News | Limavady SEC | St Killian’s College

Unique Campus Offers a Shared Future for Limavady Students Construction has started at Limavady Shared Education Campus. It is expected to take about two years for the new facilities to be built.

The strategy aims to allow pupils from different backgrounds in separate schools to come together to share classes and new buildings.

Plans for shared campuses were initially part of the Northern Ireland Executive's Together: Building a United Community strategy.

Limavady High School and St Mary's High School, Limavady, will remain as separate schools but share new buildings at Limavady SEC accommodating

science, technology, drama and media classrooms.

Designed by Hamilton Architects and being built by Woodvale Construction, the campus will be delivered in two phases: a singlestorey STEM campus at Limavady High School, followed by a two-storey shared Sixth Form campus at St Mary’s.

Education Minister Peter Weir has described the campus as a "significant milestone" for both schools.

"Once completed, these new facilities will provide much needed education benefits for pupils, staff, teachers, parents and for the wider community," the Minister said.

A spectacular backdrop for a new school for the Glens of Antrim Hamilton Architects are delivering a new school for St Killian’s College on one of the Antrim Coast’s most outstanding headlands.

Garron Point in the Glens of Antrim provides a distinctive backdrop for Red Bay and forms part of The Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The project proposes the construction of a new 800 pupil school on the existing 11-hectare site, which sits on an elevated sheltered location on the east side of Galboly Mountain.

The new buildings will be located to the rear of the site, between two retained Grade B1 listed buildings - Garron Tower and

St MacNissi’s College Chapel. The St Joseph’s building, located just behind the West Block of the new buildings, will also be retained.

Consideration is given to the topography of the site in the design. The three-storey eastern block, which will offer views to the coast, is located where the site level drops by over four metres. The prominence of the main approach of the building is considerate in scale and materials to the adjacent listed buildings.

Elongated blocks link the site together visually and through the introduction of colonnades. The facade materials have been chosen to complement the grey and beige tones of the original listed buildings.

In regard to Garron Tower, the existing extension will be demolished and the ground floor will be refurbished to create a new sixth form department. A new entrance will be constructed to the north façade.

Project News | Bird College | Marketplace Theatre

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Bird College design under the spotlight for planning approval Designs for the ambitious new Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London have been submitted for planning approval.

The multi-million pound project raises the curtain on a new era for one of the UK’s most highly regarded conservatoires of dance and musical theatre.

The existing college buildings are costly to run and no longer fit for purpose, particularly in regard to condition, insulation and noise dispersal.

In the design for the main accommodation/dance studio block, four of the dance studios include a folding partition allowing creation of one larger studio. In addition to dance studios, the EB3 block (which is the new wellbeing centre) contains a gym, physio and counselling office.

The proposal also seeks approval for the installation of a new pathway and sheltered walkway with steps, creating a second courtyard towards the back of the site and allowing easy access to EB3 and EB1.

Student accommodation is accessed from a secondary rear courtyard which has a more relaxed landscape and character, with casual spaces such as a BBQ and Picnic area flowing directly to the greenery. This contrasts with the tiered academic/performance environment in the front courtyard.

Landscaping proposes to link the two courtyards with a clear line of movement and building materiality which differs at the sheltered walkway entrance, further visually highlighting the link between the two courtyards.

The college will have two car parks and 206 cycles spaces for use by staff, students, and college visitors.

The development does not aim to increase capacity, but rather to provide facilities and much-needed accommodation onsite for 93 students who currently reside in Halls of Residence at the University of Greenwich.

Founded in 1946, the College has been recognised for the past 75 years as a centre of excellence for training young people for careers in the entertainment industry.

£1m Revamp is the Star of the Show at Armagh Theatre The Marketplace Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh, one of the best-known and highly regarded arts venues in Northern Ireland, is ready to raise its curtains again after a £1m revamp from Hamilton Architects.

Improvements included a reimagining of internal workshop space, upper ground floor reception and lower ground floor bars, as well as provision of a small exterior lobby on the ground floor to assist with event access.

The venue, which is marking its 21st anniversary in 2021, attracts around 80,000 visitors a year to a diverse, high quality programme in creative, visual and performing arts.

A number of audience development initiatives are planned to ensure increased opportunities for engagement in arts activity and to further develop the facility’s role in delivery of the area’s signature events.

Photograph courtesy of Lowry Construction Castlederg

Project News | St Patrick’s Crossmaglen | Rowandale PS

An exciting new start in a majestic setting for St Patrick’s

Rowandale Primary School receives planning approval

Hamilton Architects are designing new teaching accommodation for St Patricks, Primary School and Irish Medium Unit at Crossmaglen. The 1,485m2 project, which includes alteration and refurbishment of the current school building, aims to start onsite late next summer and complete in spring 2024.

Founded in 1959, the school is situated near the town centre on a beautiful location on the Carran Road, with majestic Slieve Gullion as its neighbour. It currently has nearly 340 pupils.

The project will deliver a new eight class extension to the existing 12-classroom school, and a multipurpose hall.

External works include an access road, pupil play areas, car parking and landscaping.

An exciting new scheme for Rowandale Integrated Primary School, Moira, has received planning approval.

St Patrick’s Nursery, which opened in 1999, caters for 52 children. In 2002, an Irish Medium Unit, Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa, opened and currently has 103 students.

Project Architect Graeme Ogle, Partner at Hamilton Architects, said: “Completion of this project will guarantee state-of-the-art facilities for pupils and teachers which will take them well into the 21st century.”

Rowandale opened on the site of a farm on the outskirts of Moira in 2007 with just 18 children. Today, it is the only integrated education facility in the wider area and one of the fastest growing schools in Northern Ireland.

The newbuild will see the school become a 14-classroom building designed to accommodate a yearly increase in pupil numbers - currently standing at an enrolment of nearly 400 boys and girls.

The new classrooms will be situated along a curve, with a progression from P1 to P7. Four separate entrances will give the children access to the classrooms via external soft play areas.

A separate building, linked by a corridor and with its own main entrance, will offer a dining and sports hall, as well as a library and utility rooms.

The design also seeks to ease traffic congestion by providing a two-lane drop-off/pick-up facility, along with an additional 40 parking spaces for staff.

Project News | Holy Trinity | Ulidia | St Louis Kilkeel

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Contractor appointed Ulidia starting onsite for Holy Trinity College in early 2022 with project in Cookstown IST appointed

New school planned for 860-pupil St Louis Grammar in Kilkeel

Felix O’Hare Ltd of Newry has been appointed to deliver Hamilton Architects’ design for a new 1,300 student post primary facility for Holy Trinity College, Cookstown.

Hamilton Architects have won the contract to deliver a new school building for St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, a co-educational establishment catering for around 860 students.

The Holy Trinity College Foundation has been established to raise additional funds and provide supplementary resources for the delivery of the new school, which received planning approval last July.

Hamilton Architects will head up the Integrated Consultant Team and oversee delivery of this ambitious education project through RIBA Stages 0 to 7.

O’Hare & McGovern have been appointed as the Integrated Supply Team for the new Ulidia Integrated College. They are preparing detailed construction information for the project, with the intention of starting onsite in early 2022.

Hamilton Architects are leading the Integrated Consultant Team for the delivery of the £28m, 16,000m2 building on a 6-hectare site at Chapel Street in the Co Tyrone town.

Construction on the shale pitch at the rear of the existing building will be delivered in two phases: the new school and games pitch, followed by demolition of the old school and completion of siteworks.

Ulidia Integrated College was granted planning permission for a new £19m threestorey school in Carrickfergus, designed by Hamilton Architects. Around 700 pupils will be accommodated in 43 classrooms in a 10,314m2 building.

Services include the development of feasibility options to provide the required accommodation, procurement and management of a contractor, and management of construction of the building.

The design will provide 11,365m2 of academic accommodation to meet modern educational standards, along with 550m2 of school meals accommodation.

Sustainability will be at the heart of the scheme – as one of five pilot projects included in the NI Energy Management Strategy and Action Plan 2030 it will aim to achieve a BREEAM Excellent standard.

St Louis’ is a Specialist School in Technology and Computing with an expert staff offering the full range of STEM subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Computing.

The curriculum offers a broad range of subjects at all Key Stages including GCSEs, Level 2 equivalent qualifications, and Post16 qualifications including A Levels, Applied courses and BTECs. Pupils come from a wide catchment area which includes Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Annalong, Newcastle, Castlewellan, Hilltown, Mayobridge and Rostrevor.

Practice News | Update

WWII fighter pilot Training dome to be Transformed into Unique events space

Bienvenue! We welcome new Project Architect Fabien Cadot to the team We are delighted to welcome our new Project Architect, Fabien Cadot, who has over 20 years of professional experience.

Fabian graduated in Architecture from the

Ecole d’Architecture de Paris La Villette and also holds a degree in Civil Engineering.

His new post will see him working on an ambitious masterplan for the £100m redevelopment of a prominent waterfront site at Queen’s Quay, Belfast, and delivering designs for the new £4.1m Enniskillen Library in Co Fermanagh.

Fabien has extensive experience in the sport and healthcare sectors. He was Project Architect for the €250m Olympique Lyonnais Stadium (below, courtesy OnlyLyon) and Le Havre Stadium (€80m) and provided expertise for the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as other sports arena projects in the UK and Middle East.

Hamilton Architects are transforming a disused WWII bomber training dome in Co Londonderry into a unique new events space.

Covering RIBA Stages 3-7, this scheme will transform the dome - a thin reinforced concrete shell originally used to test gunner accuracy – into a multi-use community space.

Two years ago, Binevenagh and Coastal Lowlands Partnership Scheme appointed Hamilton to draw up conservation proposals for a range of structures in the area including a pillbox, Martello tower and gun battery.

The WWII Anti-Aircraft Dome Trainer at Artikelly, outside Limavady, is one of the most unique defence heritage sites within the Partnership Scheme area.

The village of Artikelly hosted an RAF base which played an important role in training aircrews for the Battle of the Atlantic.

Used by the Royal Air Force to train flight bombers and gunners during WWII, warfare conditions were simulated by using sound effects and projecting imagery on to the curved interior surface of the dome with trainees using a dummy gun unit to test their accuracy.

Only six training domes survive today in the UK and this one, which is on the NI Heritage at Risk Register, is the only example in Northern Ireland.

Photos | Courtesy of Visit Derry

He co-ordinated services for the £165m PFI hospital project at the Royal Victorian Infirmary in Newcastle and was Project Architect on the 7,000sqm Clinical Offices Building project. He also co-ordinated professional services for two district hospitals in Gabon.

Other experience includes delivering commercial retail projects in Austria, Germany and France for prestigious US and UK brands, along with several residential housing projects.

He also ran his own end-to-end residential market consultancy for private clients in the UK and France.

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Young Designer Award A ‘picture-perfect’ winner Jordan joins the team placement for Rachel Award-winning student Jordan Beattie has returned to the Hamilton Architects team as a member of staff after completing a Masters in Architecture at Ulster University.

Jordan is already a familiar face, having spent a year at the Belfast office after winning the Hamilton Architects Young Designer of the Year Award 2017and gaining a BA in Architecture.

His design for an outdoor activity hub - a Cheese Rolling and Treewalk leisure facility for the grounds of Narrow Water Castle Estate - impressed Partner Paul Millar and won him a cash prize and job offer.

Paul said: “We loved Jordan’s design – it was original, fun and experiential, with an element of recycling. We are looking forward to him contributing his talent for innovation and sustainability to our project portfolio.”

“We loved Jordan’s design – it was original, fun and experiential, with an element of recycling. We are looking forward to him contributing his talent for innovation and sustainability to our portfolio.”

As part of his twoyear Masters course at UU, Jordan led a studio team in creating, formulating and presenting a final year project which comprised a plan to convert an old linen factory in the Village area of South Belfast.

“The linen factory is the last industrial building left on the site,” he said. “My scheme delivered a low cost, low carbon impact plan which would preserve the building as an urban farm, walled garden, workshop, museum and community space.

Part one Architectural Assistant Rachel Murphy is currently on her placement year with Hamilton Architects, having just graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with first-class honours in BSc Architecture.

She has also recently been nominated for the RSUA Bronze Medal and featured in popular online magazine, Dezeen.

“In 6th form, I was heading towards engineering when I went to a Queen’s open day and talked to someone about architecture.” she said. “I have always loved art and design as well as maths and engineering, and I realised I had found my perfect degree.

“None of my family has a background in architecture, but I grew up around construction.

I did A levels in technology, maths and physics, with an AS in chemistry, and ended up with offers for both engineering and architecture. By then I was set on Architecture.”

Rachel has previously completed work Rachel’s Stage 3 design for The Healing experience with various Gardens - A Mental Health Centre for Belfast practices, Cancer Patients and Survivors including Hamilton Architects. These practical experiences helped her confirm her love for architecture.

“I found my course both creative and inspiring, which really helped me to think outside the box with my designs. I still have a lot to learn about professional architecture, which will continue throughout my placement year with Hamilton Architects,” she said.

“In my thesis, I pointed out that single-agenda private redevelopment of Northern Ireland’s post-conflict community contexts can develop disappointment, frustration and anger, undermining community integration and stability.

“I was delighted to return to Hamilton Architects for my placement year. I really enjoy the office atmosphere and the big, friendly team. I’m excited to learn from experienced architects who are very encouraging and proactive in sharing their knowledge.”

“For that reason, I am very much drawn to urban renovation creating new life for old buildings and forgotten spaces in a costeffective, sustainable way that creates value for their users and the wider community. I see a lot of potential for that in Belfast.”

It has always been Rachel’s ambition to design a theatre. Now she finds herself contributing to an exciting project for Newry Town Hall & Theatre and has even assisted with a recent competition entry. “It is a dream come true for me and I can’t wait to see what else lies in store over the next year!”

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