Maximum flexibility

Cassidy + Ashton were appointed in 2009 by Morgan Sindell as part of the New Horizon's consortium to design the redevelopment of the existing St Mary's Catholic College / Christ the King Primary School in Blackpool as part of the Blackpool Building Schools for the Future Programme.

The design evolved through close dialogue with the Head teachers and the local authority.

Forty percent of the existing historic building were planned to be retained and remodelled, which together with the new accommodation, was to provide a primary school, a secondary school and a new faith building.

The submitted proposals offered an all through school which was truly transformational. The school was separated into 8 different Learning Houses. Each learning house provided a variety of open and discrete learning spaces clustered around an Inspiration Hub, which in turn could be reconfigured to provide further discrete learning spaces and numerous changes of size/moods/displays

The scheme offered maximum flexibility for short term reconfiguration of space to support differing teaching styles but could also accommodate a future change in the educational model the school chooses to adopt.

Our design was to provide flexible, adaptable and agile learning environments that supported Blackpool and the schools in their mission to enable every child to achieve and exceed expectations, whilst also addressing community needs and contributing to the wider economic regeneration of the town.