Royal College of Music breaks new ground with ambitious campus redevelopment

Tuesday 13 June 2017

On Tuesday 13 June, Royal College of Music Chairman Professor Robert Winston, together with Director Professor Colin Lawson CBE, marked the start of an ambitious redevelopment of the RCM campus, Europe’s leading institution for performing arts.

The courtyard at the centre of the College will be transformed as part of More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music. Tuesday’s event included a rousing fanfare by RCM trumpeters as Professor Lord Winston planted the first spade in the ground.

Renowned architect John Simpson has reimagined the RCM site with major enhancements that will allow us to strengthen our facilities and invest in innovation. Our 21st-century vision promises to transform the way students and visitors experience the Royal College of Music for generations to come.

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HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron of the £40 million philanthropic campaign that will fund the redevelopment, which has already raised 60% of its overall target.

The RCM has partnered with UK construction contractor Gilbert-Ash, whose award-winning projects include refurbishment works to the Grade II listed Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the extension of the Institute of Engineering & Technology in London and the iconic new 450-seat Everyman Theatre, which won the RIBA Stirling Prize 2014.

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Professor Lawson said, ‘I am delighted to mark this historic moment. The development of our campus will enhance our facilities and ensure the RCM continues to be a world leader in music education.’

Professor Lord Winston added, ‘The More Music scheme will unlock the RCM’s potential and secure its long term future as a world leading music conservatoire; I am excited to see the architect’s vision come to life.’

Find out more about the redevelopment of our campus on our More Music homepage.

More Music: Reimagining the Royal College of Music is supported by:

The Foyle Foundation
Garfield Weston
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Polonsky Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation

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