St Paul’s Equal Access Project – Winner of 2023 Civic Trust Award
Stonewest NewsCongratulations to the whole team who worked on the St Paul’s Equal Access Project. The project has won a 2023 Civic Trust Award. This is a fantastic accolade for this highly technical and beautiful project.
The Civic Trust Awards recognises outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment and we are delighted this project has been recognised as a remarkable, ambitious scheme which involved the most significant external alteration to the building since its completion in 1711.
Phase 1 of this highly commended project provided independent step-free access to Christopher Wren’s iconic building via two sinusoidal stone ramps to the North Transept entrance of the Cathedral. The ramps are walled with Portland stone to match the Cathedral. The ramps are paved in granite, with high quality aluminium bronze handrails and balustrades. As Principal Contractor for this phase, Stonewest is very proud to have contributed to the team effort by constructing the ramps, steps, handrails, and lighting. The installation is reversible, as per good conservation practice and sits on top of the original steps which are protected below.
We greatly enjoyed working closely with our specialist manufacturers and suppliers to deliver the project which was designed by the talented team at Caroe Architecture. Due to our long-term support for the St Paul’s Works Department, we understood the desire over many years to achieve this project for the public good. This landmark construction was a pleasure for Stonewest to help deliver.
Phase 2 of the project is the Remember Me inner portico, a memorial to those who have died from COVID-19. This beautifully crafted and sensitive project was designed by Caroe Architecture and delivered by our associates at Sir Robert McAlpine.
In addition, the project is also the winner of the 2023 Selwyn Goldsmith Awards for Universal Design. This award acknowledges schemes that are responsive, flexible, welcoming, and simple to use; promoting dignity and equality. This award is given where an exemplary design puts people first.
Judges’ Comments: “This is a well-considered and executed project, and the craftsmanship is exemplary.”
