Revitalising a Historic Seafront Landmark for Modern Learning

Commissioned by Weston College, this £10–15m project involved the refurbishment, reconfiguration and extension of the 1920s Winter Gardens Pavilion to create an inspiring new home for the College’s Law and Professional Services Faculty. The redevelopment sought to preserve and enhance the character of this prominent seafront landmark while delivering high-quality, flexible teaching and social spaces.

Craddys were appointed across all RIBA stages, providing primarily structural engineering support with associated civil design. Our work included the design of permanent and temporary structural alterations, enabling the reconfiguration of existing floor layouts and the integration of new build elements. A major technical focus was the stabilisation of the historic domed roof, which required bespoke load testing of structural fixings to verify capacity and ensure long-term structural integrity.

Environmental performance was central to the scheme, which achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. Craddys assessed and reused existing piled foundations to reduce embodied carbon, while extensive temporary works design supported safe and efficient delivery within a complex existing structure.