The South Wing FAQ's

Teaching and learning styles are constantly evolving, while the use of technology is rapidly advancing. Moreover, a positive learning environment is critical to pupils' mental health and wellbeing.

An extensive review of the School's estate highlighted that classrooms in the 1920's W Block no longer meet the Department of Education space standards and are not fit for purpose.

A study by the School's structural engineers showed that due to the way the W block is built, it is not possible to adjust the internal layout to provide larger classrooms without almost completely dismantling and rebuilding the structure.

The swimming pool which was built in the 1960s and saw over 12,000 individual usages each year, was closed in 2024 due to unsustainable repair costs. Moreover, the refurbishment of the 1950s dining hall, which serves more than 700 boys daily, has been deemed unviable.

The Soane Building is one of the most iconic buildings in Belfast and the proposed new South Wing has been designed to specifically complement it. When viewed from College Square East, the proposed new building will have a better scale and style in comparison to the existing Dining Hall.

RBAI's proposed plans will not compete with any schools seeking public funding. A funding model is in place and voluntary donations will play an important role in the successful delivery of the scheme.

The construction of Phase 1 commenced during the summer of 2025 and be completed by the spring of 2027. At that point assessment will be given to the timeframe for delivering Phase 2.