Morgan Sindall Construction has handed over a £16.5 million renovation of the Pantycelyn student halls to Aberystwyth University.
The main contractor was awarded the project through the South and Mid Wales Collaborative Construction Framework (SEWSCAP), which it has held a place on for almost a decade. Construction began in June 2019 and was completed in time for students returning for the new academic year.
First opened in 1951, the historic hall of residence boasts an illustrious past. Named after the famed Welsh literary figure, William Williams Pantycelyn, it was home to Prince Charles during his time as a student in Aberystwyth and featured prominently in the last season of Netflix’s The Crown.
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The building has been a dedicated Welsh-language hall since 1973. Following its reopening, it will house the Welsh-language students’ union, Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth, as well as all other Welsh language societies.
Due to its importance to the community for Welsh-speaking students the project received additional funding of £5m from the Welsh Government, through its 21st Century Schools and Education Programme. In 2016, the Welsh Government unveiled plans to achieve 1 million Welsh-language speakers by 2050.
The high-profile restoration of the building involved sympathetic external renovation, along with internal refurbishments spanning 70,000 square feet. This included the creation of modern, en suite bedrooms, with high-speed internet access for up to 200 students.
In addition to communal catering and laundry facilities, study and leisure spaces have also been delivered for use by both students and the local community.
Rob Williams, Morgan Sindall Construction Area Director, said: "We are proud to have completed work on such a historically significant project, and to have ensured a safe working delivery throughout the challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
"Pantycelyn is one of the university's most iconic buildings and plays an important cultural role in championing the Welsh-language. We have worked closely with the university to ensure that the newly reopened hall will provide future generations of students with bright, modern amenities, while retaining its heritage as national asset for Wales."
