Fourtowns Primary School, Co. Antrim

Doran Consulting was appointed to provide structural engineering services, by Samuel Stevenson & Sons, for this new primary school construction, within the grounds of an existing school. The school, which is crescent-shaped on plan, consists of seven classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, a kitchen and resource and administration areas.

The building is single storey and predominantly constructed from load bearing masonry with a concrete ring beam at eaves level. The structure is supported on traditional strip foundations. The roof consists of timber trussed rafters over the classrooms with a structural steel frame over the multi-purpose hall and entrance area.

One of the main features of the school is a clad 'lantern' which runs the full length of the roof. Natural light is provided to the central corridor by means of roof windows located along the length of this lantern.