BIMM Institute Bristol to Open New Building

21 October, 2021

We’re really excited to announce that BIMM Institute Bristol will be moving to a fantastic new building in Stokes Croft. The four-storey space has planning permission already granted, and the doors will be open for new students starting in 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 one thousand students. St James’ House, our new building, will replace our Passage Street campus building and will support our continued growth by ensuring our students have access to industry-standard resources throughout their studies.

BIMM Institute Bristol to Open New Building front image

About our new building

St James’ House is a four-storey, 33,000 square feet former office building in Stokes Croft. Its proximity to BIMM King Square allows us to develop a more substantial presence and community in the area.

Stokes Croft has been an ideal home for us over the years, with a range of fantastic local independent venues and a strong student community. Now, feeling like we’ve outgrown our Passage Street campus, we’ve taken this opportunity to re-imagine how our college spaces should look, feel and function.

Studio People, our design and construction team, have been working directly with Hannah Phipps, College Principal, to develop a new vision for the college that puts the student, staff and local community at the centre of the design. The college will be clean, contemporary and industrial, whilst making use of natural materials. Studio People specialise in creating studio spaces, 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 our single and joint honours courses, including performance, media and marketing, music business, event management, songwriting, 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
    • Room for students to exhibit their own art and sound installations
    • A café-bar

BIMM Institute Bristol to Open New Building - interior

“The in-house venue and professional facilities offer students the chance to hit the ground running with their own projects.”

– Hannah Phipps, College Principal.

Hannah Phipps, College Principal, added:

“It’s a beautiful building focused around a central atrium, which Studio People have made the most of 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 at BIMM Institute that the best way to learn about the creative industries is to get stuck in and give it a go. The in-house venue and professional facilities offer students the chance to hit the ground running with their own projects. 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 space will also arrive just in time for the launch of our brand new Diploma in Music Production course that will be introduced in 2022.


Check out more of what Bristol has to offer here.

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