Royal Academy of Music win for Wright & Wright

Image: Early designs for new public galleries to showcase the Academy's renowned Special Collections (courtesy Wright & Wright)

Wright & Wright has been appointed to lead a £30 million refurbishment of the Royal Academy of Music's teaching, performance and Special Collections facilities, creating spaces fit for the next generation of musicians.

It states:

'Founded over 200 years ago, the Royal Academy of Music has long stood at the forefront of musical training and performance, housed within a distinguished ensemble of Grade I and II listed buildings on Marylebone Road. Wright & Wright has been appointed to lead a £30 million transformation of 1–5 York Gate, the 1822 John Nash terrace, and its adjoining recital hall - the most significant renewal of the site in decades. 

'Alongside a major refurbishment of the building’s teaching and performance spaces, the project will create publicly accessible galleries, conservation-grade exhibition environments and collections-care studios for the Academy’s Special Collections, which include Stradivari instruments and rare archival materials.

Wright & Wright is well known for its work in the cultural sector and in the area of music. Previously the firm worked on a new Chorus Rehearsal Room for London's Royal Opera House, which it says 'marries accessibility with state of the art acoustic design.'

It describes the Royal Opera House project:

'Working in close collaboration with Theatre Projects, Wright & Wright conducted extensive analysis and designed a scheme that improves the the Chorus Rehearsal Room's acoustics and ergonomics for the Royal Opera House’s renowned chorus.

'Seating up to 105 choristers led by a Chorus Director and Assistant Chorus Master, the design prioritises and enhances sightlines and accessibility, while bespoke hardwood panelling will improve the room’s acoustic response.'

Image: Royal Opera House Chorus Rehearsal Room - courtesy Wright & Wright