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 6th form department. A new entrance with be constructed to the exposed north façade.
Existing pitches will be resurfaced and the south of the site will be reconfigured to allow for additional carparking and bus drop-off points. The project is awaiting planning approval and completion is expected in October 2024.
