We provide design advice for the built environment at all project stages, from scoping and planning through design and tender, value engineering, construction and pre-completion testing.
We advise on sound insulation, reverberation as well as detailed review of building mechanical services and ventilation proposals, to ensure indoor and outdoor noise limits are met.
The company draws on building acoustics experience spanning the following sectors:
Residential
Party wall, floor and detail design for sound insulation in new build dwellings. Experience in signature city centre apartments, large housing developments and small scale bespoke schemes. Projects undertaken for Wates, Cruden, Seddon Construction and Galliford Try.
Sound insulation design for commercial conversions and historic building remodelling, where flanking sound in existing structures often presents challenges.
Listed buildings, including various Manchester city centre warehouse conversions (Stephenson Studio Architects). Liaison with conservation officers to develop details sympathetic to retained historic features.
Building services noise control including lifts, air handling systems, MVHR and other mechanical ventilation strategies.
Healthcare & Extra Care
Detailed review of new hospitals (including secure units) in the context of Health Technical Memorandum 08-01: Acoustics and BREEAM.
New large-scale extra care developments, which include self-contained apartments, communal living areas, activity spaces etc. Projects undertaken for:
Willmott Dixon (Limelight on Shrewsbury Street, Trafford)
Wates (Hull Extra Care PFI)
Kier Construction (Burnley Integrated Urgent Care Centre)
Laing O’Rourke (Arnold Lodge, Leicester)
Education
Review and testing of educational building proposals, from nurseries to post graduate research buildings in the context of Building Bulletin 93: Acoustic Design of Schools and BREEAM. Projects undertaken for:
NPS North West Architects (Fred Longworth Academy and various schools across Wigan)
Woodhead Construction (Nottingham University PEMC Building)
University College Isle of Man (refurbishment of large multi-purpose lecture and performance theatre)
Hotels, Leisure & Sports
Sound insulation detailing and ventilation system review of hotel room accommodation; entertainment noise control for upper floor sky bars. Building construction review in the context of Part E Building Regulations and client specific requirements.
Building envelope and internal sound insulation design to enable restaurants, bars and nightclubs in close proximity to residences comply with licensing / planning conditions; pre-completion testing to demonstrate compliance.
Projects undertaken for Malmaison, Hilton Hotels, numerous bars and clubs in Manchester city centre e.g. Whiskey Jar, Shame Hospitality and Soup Kitchen.
Design review of gymnasia sound insulation and vibration isolation in mixed-use residential developments. M&E and sound insulation design review for sports centres; reverberation control in swimming pools, dance studios and activity suites.
Offices & Commercial
Design review and pre-completion testing of new office accommodation as relates BREEAM, BCO and other guidance. Achieving suitable speech privacy between offices, meeting rooms etc.
Reverberation and crosstalk control between booths in open plan call centres (Royal Mail).
Arts & Recording
Acoustic design and project management of recording studios. Sound insulation design of existing buildings to minimise noise break-in / out to neighbours, high performance isolation between studio rooms and ventilation noise control.