Part of a landmark Nottingham building is being transformed into what executives hope will become the best educational music studios in Europe.
The ground floor and basement of the Marco Island building, on Huntingdon Street, is being turned into a new music and events base for Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies.
Confetti says students applying to study both college-level and degree courses in music performance, music technology and live events production will be able to use the facilities when they are complete.
The work is due to finish next spring, although some facilities will open to students in October.
Craig Chettle, chief executive of Confetti, said: “Our role is all about harnessing talent and creating the best opportunities for success.
“We have always re-invested in our facilities to stay current but this development takes our provision for music and events to another level.
“It makes Nottingham a must go to destination for contemporary music education.”
He added: “Students learning the nuts and bolts of the music and events industries will be guaranteed the best possible learning opportunities and will acquire the skills required by the industries they want to work in.”
The complex, which covers 3580 square metres, will feature editing suites and the auditorium, with 300 seats. The rest of Marco Island is a residential apartment block.
The project is the second major Confetti development started this year in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.
Work is continuing on a £9.1million ‘digital media hub’ featuring classrooms, seminar rooms and a rooftop garden, connecting the Confetti college centre, on Convent Street, and the Higher Education Centre on Parliament Street.
Nottingham Trent University bought a controlling stake in Confetti in 2015 and, last month, the university was awarded a gold-standard award for its teaching standards.
Professor Edward Peck, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “As our gold rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework highlighted, all of us at Nottingham Trent University are committed to providing an excellent student experience across our campuses.
“These new facilities will secure that for our Creative Quarter Campus students. Combined with continuing work to create Confetti’s Digital Media Hub, these developments will not only provide positive benefits for the students fortunate enough to study there, but will also generate additional economic benefits for creative businesses in the area and further enhance the reach and reputation of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.”
