The Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) is Ireland’s longest serving provider of classical music education forthcoming redevelopment, AtkinsRéalis will provide Civil and Structural services to redevelop this state-of-the-art facilities for the 170-year-old institution.

The redevelopment of RIAM’s Westland Row building in Dublin will provide Ireland’s longest established music conservatoire with state-of-the-art facilities to train and inspire future generations of Irish and international musicians and to underpin its driving ambition to nurture passion for music.

AtkinsRéalis, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group are providing Civil & Structural engineering services for this exciting project, which will see the complete renovation and upgrading of the existing Academy facilities in Dublin, which have protected structure status. The Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) is Ireland’s longest serving provider of classical music education forthcoming redevelopment, will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the 170-year-old institution.

The existing Georgian buildings to the front of the site will be renovated with the balance of the site to the rear fully developed over 4-storeys to provide over 5,300m2 of Recital, Library and Teaching facilities for the Academy. The project incorporates a three storey tall 300 seat Recital hall, which will be the central feature of the development with the geometry, volumes and structural form optimised for its acoustic performance.

The proposed redevelopment and expansion will enable the RIAM to train, support and guide even more of Ireland’s future musical stars. The redesigned Westland Row RIAM campus will feature:

  • A new 300-seat concert hall
  • A purpose-built opera studio and rehearsal space
  • 75 teaching rooms featuring adjustable and adaptable acoustics
  • A new state-of-the-art library to underpin an ambitious research agenda
  • A sonic arts hub for electronic music composition
  • A 60-seat tiered lecture hall
  • A dedicated music therapy facility for people of all ages and needs
  • A new and more accessible entrance that will allow wheelchair users to fully access RIAM’s facilities

The redeveloped and expanded campus will enable the RIAM to increase its student enrolment and significantly strengthen its teaching faculty. The fully accessible facilities will also allow the RIAM to develop tailor-made programmes for disabled musicians and to deliver music therapy onsite, a first for any conservatoire in Ireland. The RIAM has been an important part of Ireland’s cultural world for over a century, providing the training and support that puts Irish musicians centre of the global stage. The roll call of names that have passed through its door include some of the greatest performers on the domestic and world stage. It continues to help produce the best young talent in Ireland, and its redevelopment marks a significant first step towards the future of classical music in this country.