| Work has begun on a £10million development by the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) for a new school to replace Fivemiletown High School and Community College.
SELB Chairman Mrs Moira Alexander officially marked the start of the project with the sod-cutting on the site adjacent to the existing school at Corcreevy Demesne, Fivemiletown, on Friday, December 10.
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The development will include a youth annex and a floodlit synthetic multi-purpose pitch. A funding application has been made to the Big Lottery Fund for an enhanced sports hall and community facility on the site and a decision on the application is expected shortly.
Mrs Alexander said: “I am delighted to officially mark the start of work on the site of this new school. Today is a special day for all involved. This project represents the Board's ongoing investment in high quality education provision throughout the SELB area. ”
Also attending the sod-cutting were pupils of Fivemiletown High School and Community College, principal Ken Lindsay, teaching staff and representatives of the Board of Governors of the school.
Rev Canon Robert Riddel, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Fivemiletown High School and Community College, led a short service of dedication at the site.
Adrian McCormick of Ferguson McIlveen is project manager for the scheme.
Mr McCormick said: “This is the first Design & Build school project in Northern Ireland and we are using a new two stage contract approach based on partnership. Our aim is to produce not just another school but a facility which will create a learning environment for the pupils and local community for many years.”
John Reid, project architect and Senior Partner in Robinson McIlwaine Architects said: “The design of the building revolves around an imaginative site plan, which places the new school in the ideal location to knit the diverse elements together, whilst still providing the school with a frontage to the road and a presence within the local community.”
The school is being built under the Design and Build process which brings together professional expertise from the two areas of architecture and construction in a consortium led by Tracey Brothers, Enniskillen.
Contracts manager Peter Maguire, of Tracey Brothers, said: “The team has worked along with Fivemiletown High School, the SELB and their project managers Ferguson McIlveen to address the main challenges of meeting the school's specific design needs, particularly integrating the new 8000sqm school and extensive sports facilities including a new synthetic hockey pitch with the undulating site and existing swimming pool facilities and providing a low maintenance efficient building.”
It is anticipated that, due to the need to phase the construction process, the site works will take in the region of three years to complete but ‘blocks' will be handed over to the school as they are completed to allow other areas to be cleared ready for demolition.
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