excellence & innovationin acoustic design

Adrian James Acoustics Ltd is an independent acousticsconsultancy specialising in acoustically demanding projectsincluding auditorium, studio and sound system design.The practice combines the technical facilities normally associatedwith large companies with the flexibility, speed and economy of asmall specialist consultancy. Our aim is to assist in the design andrefurbishment of acoustically excellent buildings within the limitedbudgets often available for such projects.

The vast majority of our work is the direct result of specificrecommendations from clients and designers with whom we haveworked before. We therefore have an enviable reputation forreliability, technical excellence and client satisfaction.

The practice’s areas of expertise are described below.

Acoustic design of buildingsWe provide acoustic consultancy from the inception of a project,through feasibility studies, outline and detailed design, tospecification, tender, construction and commissioning. The adviceprovided can range from the design of lecture theatres to thelocation and silencing of air-conditioning plant, from the use oflightweight partitions to the specification and design of the publicaddress system - in short, anything that affects sound in and aroundbuildings.

Auditorium and studio designFew consultancies can predict the acoustics of rooms beyondestimation of reverberation times. Very few can relate the calculatedacoustic parameters to the subjective response of performers andaudiences. We can do this for any space from a studio control roomto a 10,000 seat arena, and compare the results with existing venuesso that designers, performers, broadcast and recording engineerscan judge how a given design will sound.

Electro-acoustic designComplex electronic systems for artificially varying acoustics are nowused in many buildings, particularly in multipurpose auditoria. Wehave unique experience of such systems and can advise on theirselection, specification, installation and day-to-day use.We also specify, design and commission sound systems for publicaddress, music amplification and speech reinforcement inacoustically challenging surroundings.

Computer and scale modellingComputer models are more easily created and altered than physicalscale models, allowing us to test innovative designs that mightnot otherwise be considered. Adrian James Acoustics was the firstacoustics consultancy in the UK to use the CATT-Acoustic computermodelling system, now widely regarded as the best availableprogram for this use. We work closely with CATT to ensure thatwe remain at the forefront of this fast-developing technology.

anything that affectssound in and aroundbuildings

practice profile

noise is a decidingfactor in many

planning applications

Sound insulationThe new Building Regulations place increased emphasis on themeasurement of airborne sound insulation and impact noisetransmission in accordance with strict and detailed technicalstandards. We have developed reliable and efficient in-housesystems for taking and reporting these measurements, and we wereone of the first practices approved to measure sound insulation inaccordance with the New Building Regulations Part E.

Environmental noise and planningNoise is a deciding factor in many planningapplications. We can provide detailedmeasurements and prediction of noise andvibration levels, and where necessary design toreduce noise emissions to the environment.Where there are complaints of excessive noisefrom existing sources, we can provide remedialdesign, advice and expertwitness testimony.

Research and consultancyWe have been appointed by several government departmentsto undertake research and to advise on subjects includingtransportation noise policy, the regulation of acoustic design inschools and the implications of international standards on roomacoustic measurement. Our links with universities and otherconsultancies both in the UK and abroad allow us access to awide range of information and expertise.

Problem-solvingWe also provide a trouble-shooting service to solve problems suchas noise and vibration transmission, inadequate speechintelligibility and other acoustic shortcomings in existing buildings.Such problems can be seriously disruptive in the short term andare often commercially damaging in the long term. We aim toprovide a rapid assessment of the problem, and to put forwardpractical and cost-effective proposals.

ResourcesNoise, vibration, sound insulation, speech intelligibility and acousticenergy parameters are all measured using reliable, calibrated,state-of-the-art equipment. We can arrange access to commercialand university laboratories for specialised acoustic tests andresearch. Where a project requires expertise in another subjectsuch as theatre rigging, lighting, building physics or broadcastsystems, we can recommend experienced experts and provide aco-ordinated specialist design service.

Auditorium design is among the most complex and specialisedfields of both acoustics and architecture. Auditoria range in sizefrom the studio theatre seating a few dozen people to the rockvenue for an audience of many thousands. Typical uses are:

· Theatres· Chamber music recital halls· Symphony concert halls· Opera houses· Cinemas· Conference centres· Rock music venues

Each use has its own acoustic requirement and in many cases theacoustic design requires a very flexible approach to allow severaluses in a single venue. In the past this frequently involved

“Compromise design” resulting in acoustics that were adequate forseveral uses but not particularly good for any of them. We do notencourage this approach. Instead we have worked with leadingtheatre designers and stage engineering manufacturers to developtruly flexible spaces capable of providing excellent acoustics for awide range of uses.

The culmination of this has been the Derry Millennium Forum,a new auditorium where the floor, ceilings and stage lifts can beadjusted to transform a 260-seat theatre to a 1,000 seat concert hallin a matter of minutes. Providing the acoustic variation for such awide range of uses requires something rather more sophisticatedthan the conventional use of retractable absorbent materials and wehave used moveable ceiling reflectors and diffusers to vary theacoustic volume of the space. As well as adjusting the reverb-eration time these change the reflection patterns, directing earlyreflected sound to different parts of the audience depending on theuse of the auditorium.

auditorium acoustics

providing excellentacoustics for awide range of uses

innovative solutions todifficult problems and

unconventionalspaces

We have also specified and commissioned one of the world’s mostadvanced electro-acoustic enhancement systems. This uses some 140concealed loudspeakers around the auditorium and stage, operating atvery low sound levels, providing individual reflections with carefullyselected amplitudes and time delays to re-create the acoustics of atraditional rectangular concert hall. Uniquely, the system is also linked tothe stage sound system to provide surround-sound for cinema andspecial effects, and to provide subtle speech reinforcement without theproblems normally associated with traditional public address systems.

We have a reputation forfinding innovative solutionsto difficult problems andunconventional spaces.Among these are a 10,000seat arena with a VIP areabehind bullet-proof glass, a1,000 seat Shakespeareantheatre and a number oflisted historic buildingswhere traditional acoustictreatment has beenimpossible.

To find workable solutions to these problems, we have to be involvedearly in the scheme design. The acoustic demands of any building canhave a significant effect on its design, cost or even feasibility and we aimto establish the acoustic parameters as early as possible, and tointegrate these with the designs of the architect and engineers.

Studios vary in size, application and cost from the multi-millionpound television and radio broadcast centre to the small privaterecording facility in a musician’s house. All, however, have tworequirements in common - low noise levels and a room acousticthat is pleasant to work in without adding undue coloration to thesound that reaches the microphones.

Radio studios are among the most critical of all acousticenvironments, requiring very low noise levels and a high standardof acoustic isolation. In the past this was achieved by burying thestudios in the centres of large, purpose-designed buildings.The modern trend is to bring studios more into the public eye, withstudios visible to the public through large areas of glass. Oftenthese studios are installed in existing buildings that will not

take the weight of traditional heavysound-insulating constructions.Achieving the same acoustic standardsin lightweight buildings with large areasof glass is an acoustic challenge thatwe have met in several large projectsfor leading broadcasters.

Television studios are generally muchmore tolerant of noise. They do stillrequire relatively high standards of

isolation and the difficulty tends to be co-ordination of acousticdesign with the very large amounts of technical and lightingequipment involved. We can act as lead technical consultants,employing specialist consultants in studio system design, to providea fully co-ordinated technical design for acoustics, lighting andbroadcast electronics systems. We also provide the same servicefor outside broadcast vehicles, which fit the same equipment asseveral studios into a lorry. The acoustic and technical design ofthese vehicles is extremely demanding.

We have worked on Recording studios ranging from portablevoice-over booths to large studios to accommodate a fullsymphony orchestra. Post-processing facilities for the filmindustry require extremely precise acoustic design and very lownoise levels. In a recent project in Paris we achieved such highlevels of isolation between Foley rooms that the client could notgenerate enough noise to measure the sound insulation.

Teaching Studios are now becoming a commonplace requirementin schools, colleges and community centres. We have extensiveexperience of designing these to achieve good acoustic conditionswithin the very limited budgets often available for such schemes.

recording & broadcast studio design

among the mostcritical of all acousticenvironments

photo courtesy of Mason

photo courtesy of Megahertz

considerableexperience in the

practical side ofbuilding acoustics

for schoolsand colleges

Schools, colleges and universities are acoustically very demandingenvironments and strict standards now have to be met under thenew Building Regulations. Because of our expertise in this field, wehave worked extensively for the Department for Education and Skills,advising on criteria and drafting large sections of the DfES BuildingBulletin 93 “Acoustic Design in Schools” . This sets the acousticstandards for schools and includes detailed guidance on :

· Noise from road traffic and other external sources

· Noise and vibration from plant and equipment

· Airborne and impact noise transmission between rooms

· Room acoustics of all teaching areas

· Design of rooms for music, drama and dance

· Assembly halls and open-plan spaces.

· Special systems for the hearing-impaired

· Electroacoustic “Soundfield” systems

We have considerable experience in the practical side of buildingacoustics for educational premises and in the architecturalinterpretation of the complex acoustic requirements. Current andrecent projects include over 100 primary and secondary schools,specialist music and drama teaching facilities,recording studios, assembly halls, sportshalls and multi-use halls for music, drama andassemblies. Further Education projectsinclude performing arts centres, science andengineering facilities, temporary recordingstudios and low-cost research anddevelopment centres. Projects range in sizefrom individual school extensions to multi-million pound, multi-school PFI schemes.

buildings for education

ancient & modernPublic buildingsModern public and civic buildings can be acoustically verydemanding. A recent project included a central library within anatrium containing restaurants, shops and bars, with radio studiosseparated from the atrium only by glazing. In such cases it isimportant to ensure that the clients understand the limitations onuse of the building, and to take a realistic approach to designcriteria. For this type of scheme we undertake extensive computermodelling and comparisonwith existing buildings andcomputer modelling, bothto develop the acousticdesign and to demonstratethe results to the end users.

Places of worshipChurches and other places ofworship frequently haveacoustic problems, sometimes in the original design andsometimes in the changing acoustic requirements as patterns ofservices and music evolve.

Many traditional churches and cathedrals require sound systemsfor speech intelligibility, and designing theseto work within the architecture ofhistoric buildings requires bothacoustic expertise and sensitivityto the architecture

Newer spaces require specialacoustic design for a wide range ofspeech and music. We haveprovided acoustic solutions formedieval churches, modernevangelist churches, temples,mosques and synagogues.

both acoustic expertiseand sensitivity to thearchitecture

Historic BuildingsWe have considerable experience of working in listed andarchitecturally sensitive buildings, and regularly work with some ofthe UK’s leading conservation architects in buildings ranging frommedieval castles to Victorian town halls. This requires a particularlysensitive approach to design, sometimes using original materialsand sometimes using discreet, removable acoustic elements. Wehave an excellent record of implementing acoustic and electro-acoustic changes in historic buildings fabric in a sympathetic,reversible manner.

Leisure and sportNoise from cinemas,night-clubs and otherleisure activities is afrequent problem wherethese are part of mixedleisure and residentialdevelopments. Wework with localauthorities to ensurethat appropriate noise

criteria are set and achieved. Sound insulation between leisurepremises is also a major factor in design, as a typical developmentmay include a multiplex cinema, night-club, bowling alley, bars andrestaurant all within a lightweight building shell.

Office and workplace designNoise and acoustic comfort in the workplace is a growing source oflegislation and concern. High noise levels are not limited to thefactory floor and can cause problems in vehicles, on building sitesand in telephone call centres. Noise is a recognised source ofstress and illness and offices need to be designed to minimise thisas well as to provide privacy and confidentiality.

Residential, industrial and environmental noiseWe have extensive experience of environmental and industrial noisecontrol. We can specify, design and commission acousticenclosures and silencers, and advise on permissible noise andvibration levels. We are also one of a small number of consultanciesapproved to measure sound insulation in accordance with the NewBuilding Regulations Part E.

implementing acousticand electro-acoustic

design intobuilding fabric

resourcesComputer ModellingAdrian James Acoustics was the first acoustics consultancy inthe UK to use the CATT-Acoustic computer modelling system forpredicting auditorium acoustics, and we are at the forefront of thishighly specialised field both for room acoustic and sound systemdesign.

CATT allows us to predict the acoustic behaviour of a space and toevaluate the effects of changes more quickly, cheaply andaccurately than the traditional method of building and testing aphysical scale model. We can input samples of speech and musicand listen to how these will sound inthe proposed auditorium -a process known asauralisation. Bycomparison withother programs wehave found that CATTuses the best algorithmsfor diffusion and for thetransition from the early to the latepart of the decay. Over the years we have worked extensively withCATT and as a result we are now CATT’s representatives for the UKand Ireland.

Measurement systemsWe measure noise, vibration, sound insulation, speech intelligibilityand room acoustics using our own calibrated, state-of-the-art soundlevel meters, real-time analysers and software systems. As a small,specialist consultancy we have to keep abreast of the latestdevelopments in acoustic technology and as well as traditionalmeasurement techniques we make extensive use of new techniquesfor acquiring and processing data.

Professional developmentAll of our technical staff are members of the relevant professionalinstitutions, including the Institute of Acoustics. We encourageprofessional development, regularly attending and presentingpapers at national and international conferences. Adrian JamesAcoustics Ltd is a member of the Association of Noise Consultants.

at the forefrontof this highlyspecialised field

technical staffAdrian James BSc (Hons) FIOA – Director

Adrian James graduated from Imperial College, London in 1984 with an Honours degree in Physics,and spent two years in contract research before moving into consultancy. Over a period of eight yearshe acquired an unusually broad range of expertise, working for four leading consultancy firms onprojects ranging from concert hall design to train noise assessment. In 1994 he established AdrianJames Acoustics and since then has led the acoustic design of some 200 projects worldwide. Headvises several government departments on various aspects of acoustic design and regulation.

Andy Thompson BMus(Hons)(Tonmeister) MIOA – Senior Consultant

An electronic engineer and musician, Andy Thompson qualified from the University of Surrey with theTonmeister degree in music and sound recording. He then spent three years at the University’sInstitute of Sound Recording, where he was responsible for designing, installing and runningrecording studios and equipment. In 2002 he joined Adrian James Acoustics where he works on awide range of projects ranging from auditorium acoustics to systems design and sound insulationmeasurement.

Ian Rees BSc(Hons) MIOA ASTC – Senior Consultant

Ian qualified in Software Systems for the Arts and Media at the University of Hertfordshire in 1999 andfound his way, after a stint as a Model Designer at Legoland Windsor, to the Orpheus Centre inGodstone, Surrey. He worked there for four years as a Music Technologist, running the theatre andrecording studios and providing technical support for performances at a variety of venues from theRoyal Opera House to the Glastonbury festival. He joined Adrian James Acoustics in March 2005,where he works on a wide variety of projects.

Joe Bear BEng(Hons) MIOA – Consultant

Joe studied Acoustical Engineering at the ISVR, University of Southampton, specialising in SignalProcessing and Psychoacoustics. After graduating in 2001 he spent 3 years with Bureau Veritas asan RF emissions inspector. He joined Adrian James Acoustics in January 2006, where he works on awide variety of projects. In his spare time Joe runs a small recording studio and record label.

Andrew Oldridge MEng(Hons) AMIOA – Consultant

Andy studied Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems at the University of York,specialising in Psychoacoustics and Binaural localisation during his final year. He joined AdrianJames Acoustics in September 2008 and has worked on a wide variety of projects. Andrew hasrecently completed the post-graduate IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control.

Ray Barratt MIOA – Associate Consultant

Ray Barratt has over 25 years' experience in noise assessment and control. He has an electrical,mechanical and electronics background and initially worked in the electricity supply industry and atthe University of East Anglia, where he was responsible for technical facilities in language laboratories,phonetic research and sound recording. He then moved to environmental health where he specialisedin domestic, industrial and commercial noise, planning, licensing and workplace noise assessmentand control. Since 2002 he has been working independently as an Associate of Adrian JamesAcoustics Ltd, specialising in the assessment and control of environmental and industrial noise.

Octagon Business Park, Hospital RoadLittle Plumstead, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 5FH

United KingdomTel: +44 (0) 1603 721 511Fax: +44 (0) 1603 721 650

email: acoustics@adrianjamesacoustics.co.ukweb: www.adrianjamesacoustics.co.uk

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