Wilson Mason Architects has officially marked its 100th anniversary with celebration events in Manchester and London attended by over 200 guests.
Our practice can trace its history back to 1926 when pioneering Scottish architect James Mollison Wilson opened his first office in London, later being joined in partnership by Harold Clayforth Mason.
Today, Wilson Mason has a team of 35 people and has delivered projects for a wide range of prestigious clients including BAE Systems, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), European Space Agency, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, Imperial College London, John Lewis & Partners, Kings College London, Newham University Hospital and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Our North and London teams were joined by clients, professional partners and former colleagues at the two events which offered attendees a look back at our illustrious history.
Wilson Mason became internationally recognised in its formative years by shaping new landscapes with bold and ambitious designs, completing projects around the world, including the Middle East, before going on to focus on projects in the UK in sectors including science and research, healthcare and higher education.
The celebration events, held at the Manchester Museum on June 25 and The Building Centre in London on June 3, featured an exhibition of some our most well-known historical and modern projects, including architectural drawings, photographs and other artefacts.
James Potter, partner architect at our North office in Lancashire, said: “It’s been amazing to bring our Wilson Mason community together for these events which have provided a great opportunity to acknowledge where we’ve come from, but also show people who we are now and where we’re heading as a specialised practice with deep sector knowledge.
“That strong technical competence for which Wilson Mason has always been known continues in our work today in creating sustainable buildings and places that help to make our communities stronger, healthier and more resilient.”
Dominque Haslam, partner architect in our London office, added: “We’re incredibly thankful to those who joined us for our events and to all of our clients, professional partners and colleagues who have supported Wilson Mason throughout the years.
“We look forward to doing more great work together in the years ahead and creating memorable projects that not only support our clients’ goals but also spaces that support and inspire the people that use them.”
Our 100th anniversary exhibition featured photos and other memorabilia associated with historic projects in the Middle East in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, including Baghdad Railway Station and Basra Port Offices in Iraq.
Other historic projects featured in the exhibition were British Petroleum’s Harlow Campus in Essex, the Brutalist style Barclays House – which served as the international office of Barclays Bank in Poole, Dorset – and the substantial masterplanning and project work for Allen & Handburys’ (now GSK) pharmaceutical research facilities at Ware in Hertfordshire.
Some of the cutting edge projects Wilson Mason has been involved with in more recent years include the Dalton Cumbrian Nuclear Research Facility, Manchester Cancer Research Centre, the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Lancashire, and the BBSRC National Virology Centre at the Pirbright Institute in Surrey.
Our practice is currently undertaking projects including the Leyland Town Deal projects for South Ribble Borough Council, Newfield SEN School on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council, along with various projects for clients including Newham University Hospital, Imperial College London, The University of Greenwich, The University of Manchester, Bolton Council, Stokers and Bury College.