Recording Studios
Amplify Studios
In December 2019 the Rugby Portabello Trust in North Kensington launched it’s new music recording facilities; Amplify Studios.
With an ambition to help revive North Kensington and empower young people through art, music and entrepreneurship, the studios formed part of a two-phase project to provide the local community with a safe place to explore music, nurture their passions and gain industry skills and opportunities.
As part of the refurbishment and first phase of the project, the existing vocal booth and mac lab were overhauled with a complete redesign, new acoustic treatments and audio equipment. A new control and mix studio was also designed that doubled up as a wellbeing suite.
The development was part of the Rugby Portobello Trusts programme to enrich and expand horizons for children & young people in North Kensington. The Trust has seen many famous artists through its doors over the years including a young Rita Ora, AJ Tracey and Big Zuu. Amplify Studios will not only provide its existing users with professional studios but support RPT’s ethos of being a safe haven by removing barriers to entry and allowing young people to develop their strengths and creativity, and to communicate and collaborate. Amplify Studios is an example of what’s possible when musicians and community embrace an entrepreneurial spirit, and work with young people using music and technology. Amplify Studios provide a crossover of professional and amateur experiences to provide advanced job skills and opportunities in creative industries.
Challenges:
As part of the refurbishment and first phase of the project, the existing vocal booth and mac lab were overhauled with a complete redesign, new acoustic treatments and audio equipment. A new control and mix studio was also designed that doubles up as a wellbeing suite.
It was critical to work with the young people who use the facilities, to understand what drives them and what will inspire them so the facilities would be a place they will be proud of and would want to be.
The project proved to be a significant success due to its time line. Most projects of this kind have minimum lead time of 4 months for design and install and VA only had 6 weeks due to the nature of the programme
All acoustic projects are different, and this one presented the particular challenge of designing a set of studios to a very tight program.