Dr John Goodall presented the DIAPHOROS PRIZE to John Simpson Architects at the Honourable Society of The Innner Temple in London at the 20th annual Georgian Group Architectural Awards Ceremony. The prize celebrates exemplary buildings in the UK and recognises those who have shown vision and commitment in the field of architecture. During the presentation ceremony he said:

‘The Royal College of Music, one of the world’s leading conservatoires, commissioned John Simpson Architects, to resolve major circulation challenges that had been caused by piecemeal additions to its campus in the 1960s and ‘70s, and which had left it inefficient and difficult to use for both students and visitors. The objectives of the ‘Project’ were to provide new facilities and upgrade existing ones. A new courtyard at entrance level, which serves the social heart of the complex, and a triple height, top-lit foyer space transform the circulation pattern and allow access to all parts of the college. A café-bar, restaurant and new kitchen facilities have also been incorporated. Below the new courtyard are two new multifunctional recital rooms - acoustically insulated from external noise and with adjustable acoustics for different types of music. Not only have more performance, practice and teaching spaces been added and recording and streaming technology installed, but a new museum has been created to display the College’s very significant collection of historic musical instruments.

The judges admired the way the three dimensional circulation problems have been solved and how the new works, both inside and outside spaces, in a Contemporary Classical idiom, complement and tie together the diverse range of buildings, which include the original ones designed by Arthur Blomfield and Sidney Smith between 1894 and 1901.’

When the new building was opened by HM King Charles III he said:

"This has been a hugely ambitious project, I know, and it is a great testimony to the generosity of all your supporters and your unstinting dedication to the Royal College of Music that it has been achieved so successfully. After years of preparation and hard work, we can see today see the remarkable transformation that has been achieved……

My particular thanks go to the architect, John Simpson, for his extraordinary work, which so sympathetically extends the fabric of the existing Blomfield building, blending the new and the historic to dramatic effect……

I can only offer my warmest congratulations on the realisation of a long-held ambition and declare this More Music extension well and truly open. "

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