Irish school rebuilding programme advances with steel

One of a large tranche of school rebuilding projects underway in Northern Ireland, the steel frame for the Strangford Integrated College is quickly taking shape.

The co-educational secondary school will accommodate 800 pupils, and is based in the village of Carrowdore, near Newtownards in County Down.

Initially announced in 2016, construction work began early in 2024 on the £30 million new build project, which is taking shape adjacent to the existing premises.

Clare Foster, Principal of Strangford Integrated College said, “Since we opened our doors in 1997, we have continued to grow in numbers and reputation, and it is time for this new building on our existing site. This will enable us to provide students with access to high-quality integrated education in a modern, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building where our young people will continue to thrive and flourish.”

Working on behalf of main contractor Felix O’Hare, Walter Watson is fabricating, supplying, and erecting 700t of steelwork for the project.

A phased programme has been adopted for the construction, whereby approximately two-thirds of the new school is initially being built. The remainder, which includes a sports hall, will start next year as it will be built on land currently occupied by parts of the existing school and cannot proceed until a partial demolition package has been concluded.

Once the school buildings are complete in 2026, and students and staff have decamped into their new teaching spaces, the final phase of the project will see the remaining old school structures demolished, with most of the land converted into a car park.