Bristol Beacon shines again at RIBA awards

Run by the Bristol Music Trust and supported by Bristol City Council, the Bristol Beacon has been transformed into a stunning concert hall to rival other national venues for amplified and unamplified music.

Alec French Architects supported the main contractor Willmott Dixon on the £183m restoration project which was designed by London-based architects Levitt Bernstein.

The award winners were announced during a special ceremony at Bath Spa University’s Locksbrook Campus when Bristol Beacon was named top building of the year.

The jury praised it as a “remarkable civic achievement and a testament to the dedication of a committed client, an exceptional team of architects and engineers, and a city that chose to invest in its cultural future by the reinvention of its past”.

The building now functions as a powerful ecosystem for music and creative development across the region, according to RIBA. New education studios, rehearsal spaces, and the Western Stage for emerging artists together support grassroots performance and music education for tens of thousands of young people.

Multiple venues operate simultaneously within the building, helping the city to host a rich programme of concerts, performances and public events.

David Yorke, associate architect at Alec French, said: “We are proud that the Bristol Beacon has received yet another prestigious award. The judges have recognised the dedication and skill of everyone involved in the design and construction of this world-class venue.”