£22m revamp for university building
A UNIVERSITY building which opened its doors to students more than 140 years ago is to undergo a £22m restoration.
The National Lottery has awarded £10.5m towards the cost of transforming the Grade I-listed Old College on Aberystwyth seafront into a space for artists, musicians, businesses and exhibitions.
The Gothic structure will also house a café, community rooms, and a university museum, allowing some of the 20,000 items normally in storage to be displayed.
A new science centre will showcase interactive displays alongside a planetarium and 4D facility, highlighting the university’s links with the European Space Agency.
The building was bought by the University of Wales for £10,000 in 1867, using money donated by the local community.
After opening in 1872, it saw thousands of students come and go, before the university moved to a newly-built campus in the 1960s.
Aberystwyth University has initially been granted development funding of £849,500 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans and, ultimately, receive £10,581,800.
It is hoped that Old College’s transformation will be completed in time for the university’s 150th anniversary in 2022.
John Glen, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tour- ism, said: “This fantastic scheme is so much more than a restoration project.
“Thanks to the £10.5m contribution from National Lottery, it will create a thriving visitor and learning destination that will provide new cultural and community resources for Aberystwyth and west Wales and boost the wider Welsh economy.”
Baroness Kay Andrews, UK trustee and chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “These exciting plans to breathe new life into one of Wales’ bestloved historic buildings provide a significant and timely boost for the culture and economy of Aberystwyth and well beyond.
“Like many Aberystwyth graduates, I have fond memories of Old College.”
Elizabeth Treasure, vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, said: “Built with the legendary pennies of the people, it seems fitting now that funding from National Lottery players is playing a vital role in regenerating the building and the economy of this beautiful part of Wales.”
The total cost of the redevelopment is estimated to be £22m, with the university planning other sources of financing including a major fundraising appeal.
Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, chair of the Old College Project Board, said: “Our aim is to keep Old College open as much as possible during the transformation, programing exhibitions and activities to help test and develop our plans with our community, students and project partners.”