About the project

Originally built in 1908, the Aberdare Girls’ School became surplus to requirements as a result of RCT consolidating three existing schools into one new “super school”, adjacent to Sobell leisure centre. As historic building conservation specialists, we immediately recognised the site was of significant importance to the local community and the original school building should be preserved at all costs.

Aberdare Girl's School
Aberdare Girl's School

Introduction

The redevelopment of Upper Aberdare Girls School was a challenging yet amazing opportunity for our organization. Incorporating modern construction methods and strategic site logistics helped us overcome the challenges.

Project Details

We transformed the original school building into 26 one and two-bedroom apartments for over 55’s. In addition, we built 16 bungalows and two houses on the site. The development, called “Llys yr ysgol,” is located near the town center of Aberdare.

Challenges

We faced several challenges during the project, including maintaining the original building's facade while bringing it up to modern standards, fusing existing elements with modern designs, and addressing surface water drainage.

Handover

We handed over the development to our client, Hafod Housing Association, in the summer of 2020. It was recognized as a significant development by industry professionals and featured in the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) magazine.

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