THE University of St Andrews has officially marked the opening of its ‘world-leading’ Laidlaw Music Centre.
GRAHAM Construction first commenced work on the build of the facility, designed by architects Flanagan Lawrence, in 2018.
It is the first building dedicated to music in the university’s 600-year history and includes three rehearsal rooms, 10 practice rooms, a recording suite, and a library.
Professor Sally Mapstone, principal and vice-chancellor, University of the University of St Andrews, said, “The Laidlaw Music Centre is at the heart of the St Andrews cultural quarter, bringing international music and world-leading performances to St Andrews, while simultaneously creating opportunities for students and the community to connect with the performing arts.
“Music and the arts allow us to examine what it means to be human, to voice and express ourselves, and to bring people and ideas together. St Andrews now has the pre-eminent location to nurture and support people to develop their passion for music and host inspiring national and international recitalists.”
Jason Flanagan, partner at Flanagan Lawrence Architects, added, “It has been a privilege to be given the opportunity to design the Laidlaw Music Centre. Our approach was two-fold. First, to design the rehearsal and performance spaces from the ‘inside out’, where the acoustic drives the design, culminating in the oak-lined MacPherson Recital Hall, the first hall of its kind to feature a reverberation chamber. In parallel we were designing from the ‘outside in’, exploring the civic presence of the building in its historic context, whilst forming a calm backdrop to the beautiful trees in the arboretum.”
