As the name suggests, it is a former Victorian secondary school renovated into a modern shopping centre.

[5] The shopping centre building was constructed as the Central Senior Secondary School.

In 1954 the school became selective by restricting admission to children who had passed the 11-plus examination; it was renamed Aberdeen Academy.

The building was designed by John Alexander Ogg Allan, the official architect to the Aberdeen School Board.

[9] W A Brogden in Aberdeen: An Illustrated Guide describes the building as "full of imperial vigour".