In 2008 McCarter Hamill Architects were appointed to design a new community facility for Aghaloo & Blackwatertown Community Association (ABCA). Their existing Parish Hall was very small & in disrepair & could no longer meet the needs of their growing community. McCarter Hamill Architects were tasked with designing a modern multipurpose community building with a multiuse Sport/Dance/Concert Hall to accommodate 250 persons along with ancillary meeting rooms, toilets and commercial kitchen, all with high quality materials, within a restricted budget. There was a number of existing changeling site characteristics, such as, the site was stepped & faced onto & was within a List Court Yard. After a period of fund raising & securing part funding from South West Action for Rural Development (SWARD) a Planning Application was submitted & subsequently approved in January 2013. The Building Control Application, Production Drawings & Tender Documentation was then produced and Lowry Brothers Ltd were appointed as Main Contractor.

 

The completed building fulfils the client’s needs in a modern, dynamic & attractive building. The building has a slate roof, smooth rendered walls painted white and a dark grey engineering brick base. The high level aluminium framed ribbon windows which run the full length of the building, have external Iroko hardwood lovers which both softens the front elevation and provides the necessary solar shading. The piers between these ribbon windows are constructed with engineering brick which aesthetically detaches the roof from the building. The building is accessed through an existing Listed archway fronting on to Moore Street and from this archway is the first view of the frameless glass entrance porch with solid Iroko hardwood double doors on the other side of the Listed Courtyard. From the entrance porch you enter into a double high foyer with coved ceilings which doubles as a gallery space. The clean lines of the 2,529sqft (235m²) multi purposes hall are uninterrupted by services such as radiators as they were recessed into the three skin cavity walls to facilitate sports within the hall. A Junckers Sprung Sports/Dance floor was installed to facilitate the various activities within the hall. The building incorporated low energy designed lighting and heating systems, incorporating 9Kw solar PV and sports ball impact resistant fittings & fixtures. The Community Hall is now opened and being enjoyed by the whole local community. Phase two of this project, restoring the Listed Court Yard and Taylor House Building will take place in the next five years subject to funding, followed by Phase three which will see the rear car park being surfaced and landscaped.

The new Community Hall was to cater primarily for drama & musical performances with the flexibility of using it for the football club’s winter training, and a variety of other community activities including a crèche & an adult learning space. The first floor of the existing two storey GFC changing room buildings was currently being used as a bar/social area, which was to be relocated within the new hall with this existing space being converted to a fitness suite.

 

The project was part funded by South West Action for Rural Development (SWARD) & the clients had the remaining finance in place and therefore were ready and eager to get this project underway.

 

McCarter Hamill Architects were restricted to using the existing external materials used in the GFC Changing Rooms as the two buildings which were to be attached were to appear as one entity. As part of the design amendments McCarter Hamill Architects maximised the use of internal space & light to meet the variety of needs of the clients and the future uses of the building. The roof of the hall is covered with black concrete tiles; the external walls are constructed with buff coloured split faced block with a red clay brick soldier course & window sills. A Junckers Sprung Sports/Dance floor was installed to facilitate the various activities within the hall. Concealed access panels where incorporated into the stage front to gain access to the underside of the stage for storage. The kitchen was orientated central within the building so it could double as a bar during events with an access hatch linking it to the hall.

 

McCarter Hamill Architects encouraged the clients to volunteer to increase the insulation specification of the building so that any energy generated by the new gas fired burner would be retained within the thermal envelope of the building, which the clients agreed to.

 

As this building was primarily for drama & musical performances special consideration was given to the stage lighting & sound equipment within the hall. The fixed services within the building were designed to conserve energy, give flexibility of use & monitor consumption.

 

The finished Building fulfils all the client’s needs & operates with flexibility catering for the GFC Club, local drama & musical groups, community groups, dance & fitness classes & has integrated into its surroundings & appears as part of its host building.

Various Works to Church of The Immaculate Conception, Ballygawley

 

In 2010 Paul Hamill was approached to carryout various upgrade/maintenance works to Ballygawley Chapel.

 

The works included raising the height of the front entrance and reconfiguring the entrance doors to facilitate funerals, wedding and general use. A new open entrance canopy was included to maximise the visibility of the entrance and create shelter for the building users while gaining access.  The open entrance canopy projected from the existing building to a point mimicking the roof to the existing building. The canopy roof was clad with standing seam copper and was supported off cruciform columns. The entrance was further emphasised with the installation of new full height limestone wall cladding with projecting limestone fins inline with the existing first floor slit windows. The forecourt to the Chapel was repaved with Donegal Quartzite slabs. The roof was re-slated, the fascia renewed in copper with concealed gutters.

 

The finished works look seamless and enhance the appearance and functionality of the building.

 

 

We were asked to carry out proposals for a major overhaul and extension of the existing 1950’s Parish Hall to provide kitchen, multi purpose room, crèche, meeting room, office toilets and entrance foyer.

 

Our initial design was immediately accepted with enthusiasm although reductions in finishes were required to ensure that the project met with the agreed budget. Our work involved many out of hours meetings with the Parish Committee and we carried out a full RIBA professional service from inception to completion.

 

Costs can escalate when working on older buildings due to hidden problems so it was essential that we kept tight control of the project on site. The building work was constructed by local builders in 2007 at a cost of approximately £500K.

 

The total transformation of the premises is admired by all in the local community.