Schomberg House, Belfast

An existing civic building was refurbished and an extension added to facilitate a lecture hall, museum and exhibition space, offices, stores, kitchen and dining area, toilets, etc. The main entrance was remodelled with a porch of etched glass.

Works to the existing section involved challenging alterations to the steel frame and previous alterations. This required a careful analysis in relation to load transfer between the old and new structures.

Two extensions were constructed on steel frames with suspended pre-cast concrete floors and flat roofs. Traditional pad and strip foundations were adopted on trench fill concrete.

An existing adopted combined sewer was diverted to facilitate the extensions; foul and storm drainage were then linked into the adopted network.

Existing access was maintained; car parks were resurfaced, and some landscaping provided.

The tight site required careful craning of materials. (Photographs courtesy of Gordon McAvoy & TAL)

Click to expand the photos below