The Robinson (Stanley Buildings), Blackpool
- Location: Blackpool
- Client: Blackpool Council
- Type: Refurbishment | Grade II listed
- Value: £8.2m
- Status: Completed
Award-winning transformation of a Grade II-listed Art Deco landmark into a vibrant £8.2m business hub.
What we did
- Lead Architectural Design: Reconfigured the disused upper floors to create 44 private office suites and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.
- Heritage Restoration: Meticulously repaired and cleaned the iconic Art Deco cream faience and mosaic tile façade, preserving the 1930s character.
- Fabric-First Refurbishment: Executed a full replacement of the building's roof and installed high-performance, period-accurate windows to all upper floors.
- Sustainable Integration: Designed and implemented a low-carbon energy strategy, including the installation of Solar PV panels and Air Source Heat Pumps to significantly reduce the building’s environmental footprint.
- Shopfront Transformation: Replaced 18 individual ground-floor shopfront units with bespoke designs that respect the building’s historical aesthetic.
Located in the heart of Blackpool, the Stanley Buildings were originally constructed in 1935. A premier example of 1930s Art Deco architecture, the curved landmark has long stood as a symbol of the town’s civic pride and architectural ambition.
The building has recently been transformed into The Robinson, a modern £8.2m business hub that reopened in late 2025. Cassidy + Ashton acted as the lead architect and heritage consultant alongside BWD’s interior design expertise on the extensive refurbishment of this locally listed asset, working to preserve its iconic façade while ensuring the building meets the needs of Blackpool’s next generation of entrepreneurs and professionals.
Our design brief included preparing a comprehensive ‘life cycle’ refurbishment. This involved critical fabric repairs to the exterior brick and stonework, a full replacement of the roof, and the installation of bespoke windows and shopfronts designed to replicate the original 1930s aesthetic while vastly improving thermal performance.
The work also focused on significant environmental and technical upgrades. To reduce the building’s carbon impact and ensure long-term sustainability, we integrated:
Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar PV panels.
Enhanced accessibility and inclusivity throughout the internal floorplans.
Upgraded lighting and heating systems designed for modern managed workspaces.
Courtyard landscaping to reintroduce high-quality public space to the site.
This was a substantial project that drew not only on our deep experience as heritage architects but on our commitment to creating sustainable, functional spaces within historic structures. The project’s success was recently recognised when it was named the winner of the Best Refurbishment Award, a testament to the quality of the restoration.
The Stanley Buildings were originally designed by John Charles Robinson, Blackpool Corporation’s former chief architect between 1920 and 1944. Robinson was the visionary behind many of the town’s most celebrated civic landmarks, and it is in his honour that the building has been renamed ‘The Robinson.’
It was a privilege to be part of a project that preserves such a monumental building, ensuring that this symbol of Art Deco elegance continues to inspire and support creative business thinking for many years to come.
Thank you
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