Academy turns back the clock to mark 10 year anniversary
Aberdeen’s Academy Shopping Centre is marking its 10th anniversary year as a retail and leisure outlet by taking a step back in time.
Built in one of Aberdeen’s first large state schools, the building can be traced back to 1901, when it was known as the Central Public School.
The impressive granite building has seen some 3000 pupils pass through its gates as a school and later, became the venue for Aberdeen’s music centre, allowing hundreds of budding musicians from as far and Peterhead and Montrose to get together at evenings and weekends.
Because the building has been at the heart of Aberdeen for so long, Centre staff are keen to document this and is asking those who have had a connection to the Centre in its many guises to come forward with any photographs, stories or memorabilia to help chart the Centre’s history.
John Macfarlane, Centre Manager at The Academy comments: “It doesn’t seem like 10 years since we opened and a lot has happened over that time. Because it is such an important building we thought the best way to celebrate our birthday was to delve into the past.
“We’ve found some amazing archive material and so much history within the actual building work. Carved into the roof are the initials of the original workmen, which were added to by workmen in the 1950’s. From this, it is clear the Centre has a lot of stories to tell and we really want to see how far back we can go.”
Since it opened as a shopping and leisure facility in 1998 the Academy has seen some 22,000,000 visitors through the door and has recently reported its most successful year to date with its stores and leisure outlets reporting a 30% increase in business on the previous year.
The material The Centre hopes to obtain from residents and visitors will be included in an exhibition throughout the Academy, due to launch in late May.
John continues: “We have a very mixed age group using the centre and many people come just to unwind and relax. We have even had ex-pupils of the Central Public School come back to The Academy for reunions, or just for old time’s sake.
“The exhibition will give ex pupils and the rest of our visitors something really interesting to look at providing memories for some and an education as to the history of Aberdeen to others.”
The ‘Step back in time’ exhibition is the first in a series of events planned for The Centre as it celebrates its 10th anniversary as a retail and leisure outlet.
Thursday 6 March 2008
Ends
Notes to Editors:
The Academy Shopping Centre opened in 1999. It is owned by Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and managed by Aberdeen – based Apardion. It contains 8 shopping units and 5 bar/restaurants.
Issued on behalf of The Academy by PR Partnership/AVC Media Enterprises. For more information please contact Lynsey Shepherd on 01224 248007, or email lshepherd@avcmedia.com.