Plas Menai

Plas Menai is an outdoor education complex built in a distinctive modern vernacular style. The building combines a range of facilities in linked blocks arranged in a staggered plan across three main ranges, which are accommodated to the sloping site and step down towards the Menai Strait shoreline. The site is organised over four main levels in total.

The complex pivots around a central core of blocks that house the main public areas, including lounges, recreation rooms and offices spread over the upper three levels of the site. From this core, the south-west range extends forward and houses the entrance, reception, office and dining facilities across the top two levels. The main accommodation block runs back to the north-east, containing a swimming pool and bedrooms spread over the second and third levels. A north-west range steps down towards the shoreline, housing stores and sports facilities mainly on the first and second levels. The natural stone climbing wall in the upper end of this north-west range was designed by John Jackson, who was chief instructor at the National Mountain Centre at Plas y Brenin between 1957 and 1975 and the first head of Plas Menai. A north-east range at the lowest level provides workshop space and wet classroom accommodation. The north-east and north-west ranges form two sides of a courtyard, with the central core forming the upper range of the courtyard, rising above a battered stone-faced retaining wall.

The complex presents a varied and picturesque composition. Each range is stepped in plan and height, expressing the internal divisions of space and function. The elevations vary in surface treatment, notably through the use of slate-hanging and changing rhythms of horizontal bands of fenestration. Rooflines are broken by their stepped heights and extensive sweeping outshuts. In parts of the south-east range, upper storeys push up through the main roofline beneath long lines of attic windows. Other roof details include an inset balcony on the outward-facing slope of the south-west range and a prominent angled stone chimney stack in the south-east range. A harmonious composition is maintained throughout by the consistent use of angles and slopes. A stone flying buttress in the south-west corner of the south-west range appears to anchor the building to the ground.

The various blocks are unified by a consistent architectural language and a tight palette of materials. The dominant features are the large spreading Welsh slate roofs, partly concealed by photovoltaic panels, with low eaves and deep overhangs on projecting joists. The walls are mostly roughcast with some exposed stone and slate-hanging. Windows are typically arranged as long horizontal bands immediately beneath the eaves in an asymmetrical but tight rhythm articulated by external applied mullions. Some have been replaced with UPVC, but the original dark-stained timber windows still dominate visually. The material and detail palette varies according to each block's function: the main accommodation block in the south-east range has near-continuous glazing in both principal elevations, while the north-west range presents larger expanses of roughcast walling. Structurally, the walls are load-bearing stone and brick combined with supporting columns and beams, with pre-cast floor structures and laminated timber roofs.

Some 21st-century external alterations have been carried out, including the installation of roof-mounted solar panels, window replacements and additions, and works to the rear entrance from the main car park. These are not of special interest.

The general arrangement and disposition of interior spaces survives substantially as originally built, although some changes have been made, particularly in the reception area, bar and lounge. Sufficient original detail survives to enable the building's remarkable aesthetic to be appreciated. In the principal public areas, much use is made of exposed stone, concrete and wood, now painted in places. The main staircase and chimney breast in the main lounge (now concealed in a store cupboard) feature exposed stone. Extensive tongue-and-groove boarding and chunky joinery detail characterise the staircases and other features. Joinery detail is consistent across the site, although the original dark stain has been painted over in some areas. Most doors have been replaced with standard fire regulation doors, but their distinctive boarded architraves survive. Many storerooms and some cupboards retain the original doors, characterised by applied timber strips that echo the externally applied mullions of the windows. Original bespoke furniture, including the reception desk and bar, have been replaced. Refurbished areas at pool level and the dining hall serving bay are identifiable by a change in materials and finishes. All en suites to the dormitories have been refurbished. These 21st-century alterations and additions are not of special interest.