St Fanchea's College, new school site

The project involved the design of a new secondary school on a steeply sloping green field site at Chanterhill, Enniskillen for CCMS. The new school consists of two 2-storey classroom blocks. These blocks are reinforced concrete framed to first floor level and steel framed up to roof level. Situated between the two classroom blocks are a single storey steel framed assembly hall and a sports hall with adjoining fitness suite. A single storey technology block adjoins one side of the main school building and encompasses a basement plant room. A steel framed single storey schools meals block adjoins the other side of the main school building, giving the combined school a cross layout on plan.

The external civil engineering works on this complicated sloping site consisted of the site foul and storm drainage system, main access road and car parking and the construction of a full sized sand mattress gaelic football pitch, a hard porous soccer pitch and four tennis courts.

The structural design places an emphasis on an efficient combination of simplified in situ works and standardised detailing of elements which can be precast, or fabricated, off site. The use of curved steel beams and exposed SHS trusses has produced an aesthetically pleasing design. Effective collaboration between the design team and the contractor has contributed to an efficient execution of the works on site.