Background
Cubit Design Ltd. commissioned Anderson Acoustics to provide acoustic design consultancy for the development of five arches under London Bridge Station into a premium exhibition venue. The project includes exhibition halls, a café/bar, and retail spaces.
The site, located at 8 Bermondsey Street, London, was situated beneath the platforms of London Bridge Train Station. The development aims to transform this space into a venue for traveling exhibitions and special events, featuring 360° visual projections.
What we did
We undertook a benchmark noise and acoustic condition survey in the space and the surrounding adjacencies and provided outline advice to minimise noise break-in to the space, and control of reverberation times to enable the space to operate as an exhibition venue.
Acoustic Design Criteria
The acoustic design criteria were based on:
- DIN 18041:2016-03: Acoustic Quality in Rooms – Specification and instructions for Room Acoustic Design.
- BS8233:2014: Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings.
Site Description and Challenges
The site consists of masonry brick construction with a glazed façade at the entrance. Noise break-in from a neighboring restaurant and train movements above were identified as significant challenges. The existing reverberation times were found to be excessive, which could impair speech intelligibility and overall acoustic quality.
Recommendations
To address the acoustic challenges, we made the following recommendations:
- Reverberation Time Control: Developed fixed and flexible acoustic treatment for soffit and walls.
- Airborne Sound Insulation: Developed suitable sound insulating constructions for separating walls to mitigate noise from the neighboring restaurant.
- Internal Ambient Noise Levels: Positioned the café/bar and retail areas towards the front of the building to tolerate higher noise levels. Developed sound insulating and isolating constructions for ceilings and walls to reduce noise transmission from train movements.
Project Progress
This case study highlights the importance of tailored acoustic design in transforming challenging spaces into functional and enjoyable environments.
The acoustic design recommendations we provided aimed to create an optimal environment for exhibitions and events at the London Bridge venue. By implementing these measures, we concluded the venue would achieve the desired acoustic quality, ensuring a pleasant experience for visitors.
The space has now opened. Read more and view the images here
