Brecon Campus Ship Street Library

Opened by The Prince of Wales in 1969, Ship Street Library is a significant piece of post-war architecture, and one of a new generation of libraries designed to provide light and airy spaces for the public.

Now part of NPTC Group of Colleges’ town centre campus in Brecon, the project was informed by a series of early strategic and feasibility studies to modernise the Grade II Listed building and support the college’s Independent Learning Services and General Teaching spaces.

The brief included rationalising the college estate, securing planning and Listed Building consent, and delivering the project within a defined budget.

The key to unlocking the building’s potential lay in adapting the existing library to meet modern teaching requirements and the long‑term stewardship of a listed civic building. The layout and configuration were developed through engagement with the Brecon Beacon National Park Authority, Powys County Council and end-users, balancing operational requirements with the limitations of the existing structure and the buildings listed fabric.

Targeted internal interventions addressed functional and regulatory challenges.

Lightweight partitions, glazed screens, and doors were introduced to create classrooms and meeting rooms, with upgraded doors. New WCs and welfare facilities, and a replacement lift, improve accessibility and support emergency evacuation. Removing the library’s original mobile racking systems released valuable floor space and simplified circulation.

These measures allow the building to comply with current fire regulations and provide flexible, practical spaces suitable for everyday teaching and learning.

The scale and placement of new interventions were informed through close collaboration with the planning authority and conservation officers. Alongside these alterations, consideration was given to retaining the character of the Listed library.

Key features of the original layout were retained. The main entrance and existing stairways remain in place, preserving familiar routes through the building and respecting the constraints of the original structure. Elements of the original mobile racking system were repurposed and fixed to a classroom wall, offering a subtle nod to the building’s previous life. These decisions helped maintain a sense of continuity, allowing the building’s history to sit comfortably alongside its new use.

Together with the recently completed Grade II Listed Watton Mount, Ship Street Library now provides practical, flexible teaching accommodation while retaining the character of a much‑loved civic building. The project supports the college’s long‑term presence in Brecon’s town centre and ensures this important building continues to be used, valued and cared for.