The Manchester College, City Campus.

We were challenged with creating a compact configuration of different uses within the space available, so tailored acoustic design was essential to provide suitable acoustic separation between the specialist departments. Inside each of the spaces, sound quality would be a vital ingredient, so we knew proactive engagement would be needed to integrate the room acoustic treatments alongside noise-controlled building services. Our client’s aspirations for the recording studio areas were particularly high, so careful consideration of their geometric form and room proportions was required.

From the outset, we listened – establishing from the client and end users their ambitions and aspirations for a world class building. The main atrium’s theatre (aka the ‘Jewel Box’) needed to house theatre productions as well as touring concerts and acts, and had an open-plan LRC located directly above. In response, we designed high levels of sound insulation to control noise break-in and break-out. Our approach was to develop a box-in-box solution that featured an independent frame, lobbied doors and floating floors on discrete isolation bearings. We were also able to provide a design-stage ‘Value Engineering’ exercise, which demonstrated the benefits of significantly reconfiguring the building.

As overall ‘project acoustician’ representing both client and contractor interests, we were able to help expedite both the decision-making process and the resolution of issues on site – giving us ultimate control of the acoustic quality of the competed building. During the construction period, we provided a proactive on-site presence and a cooperative attitude. This was vital to assist with resolving practical construction challenges to deliver the demanding brief and coordinate the overall architecture with congested services and a complex base-build structure. Together, we were able to achieve sound insulation performances of up to Dw 81 dB between recording studio spaces.

This ambitious project will provide not only the setting for student’s experiences of university life but the industry-standard facilities they need to prepare for their careers beyond education. Delivering on professional-level acoustic quality was a vital aspect of this. Our client’s aspiration to create a state-of-the-art education facility was achieved, and we look forward to seeing the next generation of students make the most of these high quality spaces, and indeed the city of Manchester to enjoy.