Cassidy + Ashton Recognised for Outstanding Partnership

Cassidy and Ashton has been highly commended for its work with Ribble Valley Borough Council in delivering a number of projects at Stonyhurst College, including its new sixth form accommodation block, Weld House.

Cassidy and Ashton has acted as the historic college’s architects for the past 13 years and during that time the team has worked closely with Ribble Valley Council’s building control department. The partnership was recognised at the Local Authority Building Control North West Building Excellence awards last week, held at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

The four-storey Weld House was designed and built sensitively to be inkeeping with the historic surroundings of Grade I listed Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, using local ashlar stone and slate roofing. Cassidy and Ashton has developed a successful working partnership with Ribble Valley Council to ensure all of Stonyhurst’s projects are delivered efficiently and in accordance with current building legislation.

Director of Cassidy and Ashton, Michael Hartley, said: “We are very proud to have been recognised for our work on Weld House, which is one of a number of projects we have delivered as part of our masterplan for Stonyhurst College.

“It is an exciting opportunity for an architect to be asked to add a new building which contributes to a Grade I listed frontage and it is an honour to have worked on such a well-respected establishment. Weld House is the first new building to be added to the frontage of the college for nearly 300 years.

“We are very grateful to Stonyhurst for their support over the last 13 years and for their continued confidence in Cassidy and Ashton. We have been set some very challenging projects necessitating the ongoing liaison with Ribble Valley, and have developed a consistency of approach, as well as a tremendous respect for each other.“

Head teacher of Stonyhurst, Andrew Johnson, said: “We are very proud of our beautiful buildings at Stonyhurst so to be commended in this way is very satisfying. Even better, the building is being used to the full by the boarders who have been in there since September. It works really well and is a welcome addition to the facilities here at Stonyhurst. Our thanks go to Cassidy and Ashton who helped realise the vision we had for extra boarding places.”

Weld House comprises 40 en-suite bedrooms together with a three-bedroomed house, staff accommodation, kitchen and common room. Construction took 17 months, completing in September 2010.