Doors open for students from September 2022

BIMM Institute’s Bristol college are excited to announce they will be moving locations to a brand-new building in Stokes Croft. Planning permission for a four-storey space has already been granted, and work is due to begin this month. Doors will open for new students from September 2022.

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 1000 students. St James’ House, the new building, will replace their Passage Street location, supporting their continued growth by ensuring students have access to industry-standard resources throughout their studies. The team have now taken this opportunity to re-imagine how their college spaces should look, feel and function, including a two-room performance venue and café bar within the new premises.

Studio People, the design and construction team across the project, have been working directly with Hannah Phipps, BIMM Institute Bristol’s College Principal, to develop a new vision that puts the student, staff and local community at the centre of the design.

The brief was to create a beautiful blank canvas – clean, contemporary, industrial with natural materials and a clever lighting system that can transform the mood of the space. This will be the perfect backdrop for students and local artists to showcase their work and co-create interdisciplinary exhibitions. Studio People also specialise in creating professional studios, so not only will the space look amazing, it’ll sound amazing too.

The upgrade in facilities and equipment will support learning across all of the college’s single and joint honours courses, including performance, media and marketing, music business, event management, song-writing, music production, and music teaching. Besides several Mac labs, study spaces, edit suites, rehearsal rooms and lecture rooms, the new flagship BIMM building will house:

• 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

• A café-bar

Hannah Phipps says:

“It’s a beautiful building focused around a central atrium, which Studio People have made the most of in the design by keeping the atrium open and using lots of glass. 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!”

“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.”

St James’ House is a four-storey, 33,000 square feet former office building in Stokes Croft - its proximity to BIMM Bristol’s King Square building will allow the institution to develop a more substantial presence, as well as continue to utilise the range of local independent venues and form a strong student community.

Stokes Croft has been an ideal home for BIMM Bristol for a long time and BIMM Institute would like to thank the entire teamwho helped to secure such a fantastic new building in this ideal location. BIMM Institute is also thrilled to be working with TCN UK, who specialise in creative places and are supportive of what they want to achieve.

Richard Pearce, Founder of TCN UK states:

"We’re delighted to bring BIMM to St James’s House. BIMM nurtures creative talent in there music industry and we can think of no better use for this building and for Stokes Croft”

TCN's Agents from CSquared add:

"BIMM’s acquisition continues the rejuvenation of this area of the city and further highlights the demand for creative, authentically refurbished space, be it for offices or educational use".

The new space will arrive just in time for the launch of BIMM Institute Bristol’s brand-new Diploma in Music Production course that will be introduced in 2022.

Over the years the Bristol campus has been home to some famous alumni including George Ezra, IDLES, Mercy Sotire and Keir. They can boast an array of amazing lecturers too: acclaimed singer-songwriter Beth Rowley, Skindred bassist Dan Pugsley, Event Control at Glastonbury and Boomtown and Festival Manager of Tokyo World Poppy Stephenson, Crack Magazine founding editor Tom Frost, Director of Saffron Records Laura Lewis-Paul, song-writer and performer with Florence + the Machine, Goldfrapp and Birdy, Hazel Mills, and many more.

Find out what BIMM Institute Bristol has to offer here.