My last few forts are a tiny bit complicated. It's a series of Rings spanning a few Z-Levels. The "entrance" is eight 'rings'. A inner and outer spanning four Z-Levels. If Z-0 is the surface?
Z+1: Is the second level of my fort. The it's inner 'ring' is a large barracks. Accessible only from the inner ring of Z-0. It's outer ring a thin walkway 'walled' with fortifications over looking the outside of the compound and the inside of the inner ring of Z-0. It's only accessible from the barracks.
Z-0: The outer ring hosts the entrance to the fort and feeds down directly to the inner ring of Z-2 (though a sealed access passing right through Z-1) at the far end from the entrance. The inner ring (usually my hospital and being directly above my farms, my textile workshops.) Links only the the inner rings of Z+1 and Z-1.
Z-1: The inner ring are my farms (usually 7-10 5x5 plots) and the every farm related workshop not already described. It links to the outer ring of Z-2 by ramps and the inner ring of z-0. The outer ring is a water tank filled by pressure from below all of this designed to flood the inner ring of Z-2. There is a platform at one point in this 'ring' (see below), this platform usually cuts away at the outer ring of this Z-Level.
Z-2: The inner ring is another loop (that can be flooded from the outer of Z-1) that doubles back and connects to the platform on Z-1. This platform connect to the inner ring of Z-1, The outer ring of Z-2, and is the main stairwell of the entire fort. The outer ring of Z-2 is usually two small dormitories, a dinning hall, the trade depo, storage, and whatever I happen to need before I start digging down further.
And that mess is just the entrance.