Former Radar School, Albert Edward Pier, The Harbour, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, BT38

A free-standing octagonal two-stage former radar training school erected by Belfast College of Technology in 1960 at the end of Albert Edward Pier. The building has a shallow octagonal roof, the apex of which is now open to the elements. Observation from the ground suggests that it is constructed of felt-covered plywood over timber rafters. Each of the eight side walls is of glazed timber, with a slight inward inclination from top to bottom (presumably to reduce any glare from the sun). However, the sides are now partly obscured by a hoarding placed around the vertical steel balcony railing around it. The upper part of each cant has 3x3-paned windows and is separated from the 3x1-paned lower part by a broad timber string band. Many of the windows have been vandalised. The First Survey record card and photograph note that the upper section was accessed by a footbridge from a concrete stairwell attached to the inside face of the adjoining pier. This gangway is stated to have been an addition. There is presumably a door on the SE cant of the upper section in order to access the interior, but it is now hidden by the hoarding. The entire building is mounted on a circular reinforced-concrete slab supported on a central hollow concrete column. There is a curved steel doorway at the bottom of this column and there presumably is (or was) a spiral staircase to the upper section inside it. There was originally a bench seat around the base of the column for use by the public, but this has been removed.