Royal College of Music wins 2025 RIBA London Award

Thursday 15 May 2025

The Royal College of Music (RCM) has been awarded a 2025 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) London Award, celebrating the College’s landmark redevelopment by John Simpson Architects. 

The prestigious RIBA London Awards honour architectural excellence across the capital with John Nahar, RIBA’s Regional Director of London, praising the winning projects for reflecting a ‘breathtaking display of variety, creativity, and purpose'. 

The £40 million More Music transformation revitalised the Royal College of Music’s historic campus, creating dynamic new spaces and facilities, fostering an inspirational environment for our global community of students to create, research and perform music. Highlights of the works included a full renovation of the ground floor including a new cafe, the Carolean, development of the Cotes-Burgan Atrium at the heart of the College, a Performance Hall and Performance Studio, and a new home for the Royal College of Music Museum. 

James Williams, Director of the Royal College of Music, said: ‘Our More Music estate has been truly transformative for the College’s community of students, staff and audiences. Alongside two new state-of-the-art venues, John Simpson Architects' vision for the space to widen public access to the College has enabled us to welcome thousands of new visitors to the College. It is an honour to have this development recognised in the 2025 Royal Institute of British Architects Award.’ 

Professor John Simpson, Principal of Practice at John Simpson Architects, commented: ‘An architect’s job is to enable a client to achieve their aspirations.  The success of this project has come from a remarkable collaboration between the Royal College of Music and the design team to transform the campus to make it fit for the 21st century.  It is so gratifying to have this recognised by one’s peers.’ 

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This year the Royal College of Music stands proudly among an elite group of winners including the restored Elizabeth Tower (famously known as Big Ben), the London College of Fashion and the V&A Photography Centre.  

The Royal College of Music is now eligible to be shortlisted for the RIBA National Award, with the potential to be considered for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the most prestigious architecture award in the UK.  

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