News / BIMM Bristol
Music college reveals plans for new flagship building
A music college that has been home to famous names, including George Ezra and IDLES, has revealed plans for new state-of-the-art premises.
BIMM Institute Bristol is set to open the four-storey building just off Stokes Croft in September 2022 in a move bosses say will help support continued growth, ensure students have access to industry-standard resources and provide opportunities to bring the local community into the campus.
Work is due to begin this month on the St James’ House site, which will replace BIMM’s current Passage Street premises. The new site is also in close proximity to the college’s existing building on King Square.
The new flagship building will boast study spaces, edit and rehearsal rooms, as well as two industry-standard recording studios and live rooms, a creative media suite with a green screen and professional lighting rig, two high specification performance spaces, a glass DJ performance booth and a café/bar.
Speaking about the plans, Hannah Phipps, BIMM Institute Bristol’s college principal, said: “It’s a beautiful building focused around a central atrium. I can’t wait to stand in the centre and look up to see the college in full swing, especially after having to deliver so many of our classes on Zoom over the past year and a half.”
Phipps added: “We believe that the best way to learn about the creative industries is to actually work in the creative industries. The in-house venue and professional facilities offer students the chance to hit the ground running with their own projects, getting real work experience from day one. It gives us more opportunities to bring both the industry and the local community into the building, giving back to the city that’s been our home for nearly 15 years.”
The new flagship building will boast study spaces, edit and rehearsal rooms, as well as two industry-standard recording studios, live rooms, a cafe/bar and more – image courtesy of Studio People
Since opening in 2008, BIMM Institute Bristol has grown in size and scope to deliver a range of music-focused creative industries diplomas, degrees and MA programmes to almost 1,000 students.
Planning permission has already been granted for the building and Studio People, a company that specialises in creating professional studios, is leading the design and construction.
The opening of the new site in September 2022 will coincide with the launch of BIMM Institute Bristol’s new diploma in music production course.
George Ezra and IDLES are among the famous names to have gone through BIMM’s doors – image courtesy of Studio People
Main image courtesy of Studio People
Read more: New music programme will help women and non binary people get into the music scene
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