Face Lift for Trafford School
Work to refurbish the façade at St Antony’s Catholic Secondary School in Urmston is underway as part of an ongoing ‘transformation’ project.
The only Salford Diocese Catholic high school in Trafford, St Antony’s has ambitious plans to build on its reputation and academic achievements and a series of improvements to its school buildings will play a key role in delivering those goals.
Cassidy + Ashton has already delivered building improvements to the rear of the school and created a new school entrance for the building, but the latest £132,000 project will be a significant and very visible indicator of the school’s ambition.
Explains St Antony’s business development manager, Christine Ellis: “We have a new leadership team and head teachers in place now and improvements to the physical learning environment here will reflect the plans we have to enhance standards, sending out a clear message to the local community that St Antony’s is a school that aspires to bigger and better things.
“The previous work has improved the building significantly but this project will not only give us a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing building but will also provide a visible symbol of change.”
Using composite coloured cladding in the school’s colours of red blue and cream the Cassidy + Ashton designed project will transform the school’s concrete, wood and steel exterior into a vibrant and contemporary façade, with vertical strips of colour and curved shapes to add interest and profile. The scheme will include strip out of the existing corroded steel and rotted wood, along with the replacement of all windows.
Funded by a LCVAP (Locally Controlled Voluntary Aided Programme) grant secured for the scheme by the Diocese of Salford, the project will be delivered by Manchester-based contractor, Kestrel Interiors Ltd and is due for completion by February half term.
