Valleys school vies for top award

Perthcelyn Primary School has gained architects' praise

A south Wales valleys school has been chosen to compete with some of the country's most prestigious new buildings for a top award.

Perthcelyn Primary School in the Cynon Valley is being praised by some of the world's finest architects and has been nominated for the award as part of Architecture Week.

The school has a spacious interior

The nominations for this year's Sterling awards were announced at the Lord's Media centre - last year's winner.

It's Britain's most coveted architecture award and is named in honour of the architect Sir James Stirling, who died in 1992.

This year's competition is being hotly contested, with nominations from the Royal Court theatre and the glass house at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

But amongst the multi-million pound developments is the humble but no less impressive Perthcelyn Primary School.

The school - which opened just over a year ago - impressed the judges with its open, welcoming atmosphere.

'Fantastic building'

Its design, which makes use of eco-friendly building methods has also incorporated the ideas and needs of the community, with after school clubs and adult learner classes.

Mary Wrenn of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Wales, said the building was impressive.

"It's an excellent combination of a committed client, a realistic budget and a young and enthusiastic architectural team," she said.

"That has all come together and made a fantastic building as a result."