Acoustics Case Studies
Whether it’s acoustic consultancy, monitoring or vibration mitigation, our case studies are an independent demonstration of successful solutions across a broad range of sectors.
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HS2 – Euston
Acoustics, Noise & Vibration case study
HS2 – Euston
Background
Since 2019, we have been providing Skanska Construction UK Ltd. with technical noise and vibration support for their enabling works at Euston, preparing the existing station for HS2.
Challenge
Skanska had to meet all the HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements, in terms of noise and vibration, also HS2’s Code of Construction Practice.
Solution
This has involved writing and routinely updating the Noise and Vibration Management Plan, also introducing management and monitoring processes to make sure that Best Practicable Means (BPM) are planned and employed to minimise noise and vibration during demolition and construction works.
We have prepared, submitted (and received consent for) in excess of 80 Applications to the Local Authority under Section 61 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
We also undertake regular noise insulation and temporary re-housing appraisals to satisfy HS2’s associated policy, and measure/manage noise data from multiple noise monitors in and around the station in order to satisfy conditions attached to the Section 61 consents, or other associated stakeholder commitments and assurances.
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Cartwright Gardens, London
Acoustics case study
Cartwright Gardens, London
Background
The race for places at the UK’s universities shows no sign of stopping. Alongside the demand for places is the demand for quality student accommodation. The requirement for extra accommodation has lead to some major companies entering a market where assured rental yields combined with high occupancy rates, ensuring this growing niche market is seen as a good investment.
Challenge
Universities looking to attract new students, in a competitive market place, have to offer a well designed course structure as well as providing quality accommodation and living space. Most UK universities have been investing in their accommodation stock which has provided the opportunity for construction and design companies to create innovative spaces.
Solution
SRL are currently working on a 1,200 bedroom accommodation block in London which is being constructed on an existing site following demolition. The new design includes keeping the existing building slab and sub structure. This presented us with a design problem as the site overlays part of the London Underground network. The new design took account of the noise and vibration issues to create living spaces that conform to Building Regulations. Because of the size of the development the design of the building had to be carefully considered to protect the local residents. In addition the acoustic performance of the building envelope is critical in meeting the planning conditions. The development will also take account of current BREEAM criteria.
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Byron House, Nottingham Trent University
Acoustics case study
Byron House, Nottingham Trent University
Background
The Byron House redevelopment was a mixed development joint venture between UPP (Universities Partnerships Programme) and Nottingham Trent University and was based on students’ vision for the new Byron House.
The scheme provided 5,500 square metres of social, leisure and wellbeing facilities, plus living accommodation. Facilities include a sports hall, entertainment area, fitness studio, shop, bars, social space – with a feature 20 ft climbing wall – and health centre. The sports hall meets Sport England standards and the fitness studio will have approximately 100 stations. The facility also provides bespoke accommodation for the University’s Students Union, making its facilities among the best equipped in the country. In addition to this, nearly 900 new student bedrooms extended up to nine storeys.
Challenge
SRL’s brief was to provide a full acoustic design for sound insulation to the student rooms above the music venue and the likely noise from the surrounding roads as people left.
We took guidance from the British Standard 8233:1999 “Sound Insulation and noise reduction for buildings – code of practice” that directed us to consider suitable criteria which provide: reasonable conditions of study and work requiring concentration, and reasonable resting/sleeping conditions.
Solution
To achieve acceptable noise levels in the proposed student accommodation above the music venue, we suggested the use of a software based sound limiter, in the music venue. This allowed the octave bands to be individually tuned so that the best “sound” was achieved within the venue without causing disturbance to residents above. We also reviewed the proposed different floor build- ups to check that the required insulation level would be met.
The other challenge was from noise break-in to rooms from the roads outside as people left the venue. To address this, we looked at the acoustic design of the facades facing the roads and the ventilation strategy. A combination of double glazing with trickle ventilation and secondary glazing with mechanical ventilation was proposed frequency absorption properties. This avoided the need for specialist (and expensive) low frequency absorbers and enabled the money saved to be spent elsewhere on the project.
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Brighton 3Ts Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital
Acoustics case study
Brighton 3Ts Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital
Background
3Ts stands for Trauma, Teaching and Tertiary Care. As the name suggests the new hospital has a wide range of facilities and uses. This large addition to the Royal Sussex County Hospital estate has been part of SRL’s project portfolio for more than 12 years. SRL was one of the design team members during the bid phases and our longevity has provided invaluable project knowledge as other team members have come and gone. This project represents phase 1 of a possible three-phase project. At a reported cost of £485M it is the largest healthcare project to be constructed using the P21 contractual framework.
SRL provided the full acoustic design from the project’s bidding phases through RIBA Stages 3 and 4, a comprehensive programme of site visits to monitor the acoustic quality of the construction and full acoustic commissioning testing of the finished building.
Challenge
The finance model for the new hospital relied on a new Trauma capability. This required a helideck to get the most severely injured or unwell patients to the hospital more quickly and easily. The helideck was built on the roof of an existing building, a couple of floors above unwell babies in the Special Care Baby unit. A new trauma lift was also built to get patients at speed from the roof-top helideck to the emergency department at ground level.
SRL assessed the noise from helicopters landing and taking off, and the helideck and trauma lift construction noise impact on the occupants of the existing building. The impact on premature and unwell babies in the SCBU was one of the key issues and knowledge from medical and acoustic experts was combined to complete the assessment.
The large hospital required a great deal of different uses, each one with an acoustic requirement. Special challenges included:
- It is directly adjacent to one of Brighton’s busiest roads, full of noisy buses.
- The audiology department required very low noise levels to enable the most sensitive hearing to be tested. The department is directly above an underground car park, needed to provide much needed parking spaces.
- Three emergency standby generators providing emergency power but with a very high noise level, are just two floors below the most noise-sensitive accommodation.
Solution
SRL worked closely with the design team to develop a cost-effective acoustic design strategy for the new building which met the HTM08-01 criteria. This included:
- an exoskeleton construction on the existing building to support the new helideck and trauma lift
- a dropped concrete slab under the audiology department and “ceiling” construction within the car park to protect the audiology test rooms
- an independent and fully-lined generator room to absorb and insulate noise transmission to the hospital
- acoustically absorbent finishes in the large atrium spaces to accommodate a wide range of acoustic requirements
- the building envelope and ventilation strategy to meet the indoor ambient noise level criteria
- internal elements, e.g. partitions, floors, doors and glazed screens to meet the sound insulation criteria
- room finishes to meet the reverberation time criteria
- validating the building services design to see that noise from building services within rooms would met the environmental noise level criteria.
Incorporating the acoustic treatment needed in the generator room was a particular challenge. We worked with the team to adopt a comprehensive yet practical and pragmatic solution. This resolved the challenge of getting space-hungry noise control packs into the basement generator room. We incorporated acoustic absorption over the main entrance reception desk to improve speech communication with a visually-impressive and artistic solution.
Testimonial
In my role as a site construction manager/ package manager at Brighton 3Ts hospital, I was very pleased to have Richard Budd and the SRL team involved on the project. Richard demonstrated the value of a frequent and regular site presence in achieving the acoustic performance required for the project. His input enabled us to accommodate pragmatic acoustic solutions in an acute hospital design and installation environment where there many other significant and competing demands, all of which must be achieved. Having SRL’s presence on site not only helped members of our own team understand acoustic fundamentals it also helped our subcontractors to be involved and understand this too. SRL carried out frequent onsite checks and tests during the build scheme to ensure compliance and details were being followed from the start, this for me is key to ensuring a project doesn’t go too far in before highlighting major acoustic concerns/issues. Richard explained acoustic risks alongside ideal solutions and enabled us to determine the best course of action, and lead to the acoustic objectives for the project being demonstrated as achieved.
Richard is held in high regard by my colleagues in design roles who he worked closely with during the earliest stages of the project. There were significant and unusual acoustic challenges which he supported the design team to resolve. These included the noise impact to patients of the helipad construction and operation on an existing tower building, the acoustic environment within a large 3 storey entrance atrium, and a retrofit of noise control to the generator hall after the orientation intended noise control packages were omitted from the scheme.
I look forward to working with Richard and his team on phase 2 at Brighton in the near future. Their knowledge and professionalism are outstanding.
Paul Grabowski MCIOB
Construction Manager
Laing O’Rourke Construction South
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Bonus Arena, Hull
Acoustics case study
Bonus Arena, Hull
Background
SRL worked with BAM Construction to provide full acoustic design support for the venue, from RIBA Stage 3 through to completion. The venue’s location in central Hull, close to hotels and existing sensitive receptors meant that the building shell needed to be carefully designed to control noise break out. Bespoke roof and external wall build ups were designed to allow appropriately high internal noise levels to be generated within the auditorium with no adverse impact to the surrounding environment.
Challenge
Internally, the design of the venue is focused on flexibility. The auditorium includes Europe’s second largest moveable acoustic partition. The folding wall separates the main theatre from the 800-seat upper tier auditorium which caters for smaller conferences and events. There are also purpose built VIP suites and green rooms to allow private events to run concurrently with events in the auditorium.
Solution
We did extensive acoustic modelling of the auditorium with various seating arrangements and sub-division configurations to guide BAM on the optimum quantities and locations of acoustic panelling required to achieve the project’s reverberation time criteria. Our design has resulted in a venue with an acoustic environment suitable for multiple uses, including live music concerts, comedy, conferences and exhibitions. It has been praised by both public and performers for its excellent acoustic performance.
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Berners Hotel, London
Acoustics case study
Berners Hotel, London
Background
The historic Berners Hotel in London’s Fitzrovia neighbourhood dates back to 1835. The property originally was comprised of five residential houses and was ultimately converted into a hotel. The layout includes a basement, ground and seven upper floors, and incorporates original architectural features, such as ornate ceilings and a marble-clad reception area.
The hotel had been closed since 2006 and was placed in administration in August 2010. The hotel was acquired from the previous owner in 2010. Marriott planed to completely redesign and redevelop the property before its grand opening as a new EDITION hotel.
Challenge
Having been closed since 2006 Marriot chose to work again with Ian Schrager, who is an American entrepreneur, hotelier and real estate developer. The new boutique EDITION brand was conceived by Ian Schrager in partnership with Marriott International. It combines the personal, intimate, individualised and unique guest experience that Ian Schrager is known for, with the global reach, operational expertise and scale of Marriott. The challenge was to keep the original style of the building following its redevelopment.
Solution
SRL undertook an acoustic review of the existing structure and from this then prepared an acoustic design to incorporate new and existing walls and floors. We were working with the team to ensure that as much of the existing fabric and character was retained whist still allowing the new design to meet part E of the current Building Regulations. From our initial review we were also able to offer suggestions as to the best use of different spaces within the building from an acoustic point of view.
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ALOFT, Liverpool
Acoustics case study
ALOFT, Liverpool
Background
Formerly a Royal Insurance Company building, Aloft Liverpool was designed in 1849 by James Francis Doyle to accommodate the growing business. The copper plated dome on the roof is a defining feature of the building, and was once visible from many parts of the city. After becoming disused in the 1980s, a major refurbishment by Falconer Chester Hall and Balfour Beatty started in April 2013 to redevelop the site as a hotel. The project has maintained many of the building’s original features including the original wooden panelling, stained glass and marble floors, and opened to much acclaim in October 2014.
Challenge
There were a number of unique acoustic requirements for the refurbishment of this listed building, including controlling noise and vibration intrusion from outside, whilst retaining many original window systems. It was also important to provide adequate sound insulation between hotel rooms in accordance with the brand requirements and building regulations. Many of the retained features in the ground floor main hall area could not be touched, therefore alternative approaches were needed to meet the right acoustic solutions for the building. Aloft Liverpool looked to retain acoustic consultants to test the existing building and provide sound solutions that matched the building’s original features.
Solution
SRL undertook extensive acoustic testing of the existing building prior to embarking on the acoustic design. During the design process, particular focus was placed on how to combine new structures and the existing building, whilst also avoiding additional acoustic linings that may detract from the original features of the building. SRL’s expert acoustic consultants worked on solutions that would provide sound insulation between the ground floor multi-use areas and the bedrooms immediately above and below, in line with brand aspirations and Building Regulation Part E. We worked with the team to make informed decisions on what modifications could be made without compromising the appearance of the building or comfort of hotel guests.
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Alma Estate Regeneration Project
Acoustics case study
Alma Estate Regeneration Project
Background
The Alma Estate in Enfield, London is going through a 10-year regeneration programme. The works include demolition of existing buildings and construction of approximately 1,000 new homes including four tower blocks, a community centre and an energy centre.
Challenge
Noise and Vibration Assessment
SRL were initially commissioned to provide a noise and vibration assessment to support the Reserved Matters planning application. Noise on site was dominated by road traffic to the west and a railway line to the east. Enfield Council required a sound insulation strategy to mitigate both airborne and structure borne noise to protect the amenity of the future residents on the development.
Internal Acoustics – Community Centre
One of the challenges surrounding the community centre was to reduce risk to the client and provide assurance to Building Control that noise from the use of the community centre (which included a music production studio) would not adversely affect residents in the apartments above
Building Services Noise
The development included a large Energy Centre. The Energy Centre was located in the ground floor of a residential block and produced relatively high levels of noise. Enfield Council set a planning condition which related to the control of noise from the energy centre at nearby noise sensitive receptors. This included an existing school which was within 20m of the Energy Centre.
Solution
Noise and Vibration Assessment
We used 3D noise modelling to predict noise propagation across the site at the different building levels and this enabled us to provide the optimum acoustic specifications for the external envelope, including glazing and ventilators, to achieve Enfield Council’s requirements for internal noise levels within dwellings.
Internal Acoustics – Community Centre
We set noise limits in the community centre to maintain acceptable levels in the apartments above and placed responsibility to the operators to provide upgraded sound insulation if these noise limits were to be exceeded. This reduced the risk to the client of future noise complaints.
Building Services Noise
We worked very closely with the design team to specify appropriate noise and vibration control to reduce the Energy Centre’s impact on the nearby noise sensitive receptors. We specified acoustic louvres to the façade of the building, checked the proposed insertion loss performances of the attenuators to fresh air intakes and exhausts of air handling plant. We also gave advise to control vibration from plant to reduce structure borne noise within the building.
Our advice enabled the planning requirements which related to noise break out from the Energy Centre to the existing noise sensitive receptors to be achieved.
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Dubai Opera House
Acoustics case study
Dubai Opera House
Background
Creating a new performance space comes with many issues especially when the client’s brief is to allow for flexibility to allow for maximum utilisation of the venue. The clients brief for the Opera House was that the venue must provide for a very flexible auditorium that would also be capable of operating in a flat floor mode to provide space for banquet hall and exhibition space. Along with a world-class performance venue. Previous thinking would be to design the space for only one purpose but by using modern design and innovative solutions the space can be made to work for a wide selection operational scenarios.
Challenge
Dubai Opera is part of The Opera District within Downtown Dubai. The 1901-seat performing arts centre was designed by Atkins. The theatre was conceived and briefed by Theatre Projects Consultants, it can be converted into a traditional theatre, concert hall, banquet hall or exhibition space. Using hydraulic lifts and seating wagons to relocate 900 of the 2,000 seats, the floor of the auditorium and stage can be used for other events while the extra seating is stored in garages beneath the theatre. SRL were approached by BK Gulf to help develop a full acoustic design of the extensive mechanical services within the opera building and plaza. These systems had not been acoustically designed before SRL were involved. AGCICC the main contractor also appointed SRL to provide acoustic advice on each of the construction packages for the main building envelope and architecture to help minimise their risk exposure during the construction process.
Solution
SRL worked within the project team to provide a full acoustic design strategy for mechanical services within the building to help achieve world-class acoustic environment Our design advice was reviewed and approved by the client’s main consultant, Atkins. We checked manufacturers/suppliers data to develop schemes and source equipment compliant with the project M&E specification. SRL also worked for the main contractor AGCICC to highlight risk areas of the main building design specification. We worked to resolve conflicts within specification documents and provided Dubai Opera House alternative advice where agreed with the main consultant. For any music lover, the true test is in the acoustics – and early feedback has been incredibly positive. Plácido Domingo was highly complimentary, while midway through the first rehearsals, Stefano Pace, chief executive of the visiting Fondazione Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi orchestra, revealed that the sound is beyond anything he expected; “The acoustics are some of the best I’ve heard at any opening,” he says. “I’m very surprised, I didn’t expect that.”
