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www.universitybusiness.co.uk | T: @UB_UK
| PROMOTION: ECOPHON | 37
Sound Design at Central Saint Martins,
University of the Arts London Acoustic solution for a sound education
R
TOP: Images by John Sturrock courtesy of CSM ABOVE: Ecophon Solo acoustic rafts, for creative sound solutions
ecently rated no. 27 in London landmarks by Timeout, world renowned Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, has made an
impressive, and handsome, entrance to the Kings Cross redevelopment. Already the proud possessor of a host of awards,
including the RIBA 2012 award, the design is a triumph of old and new, combining the existing 19th century Grade ll listed Granary Building with a 200m long new build. Stanton Williams architects have flooded this new building with natural light via the central “street”, one of the five essentials for effective learning, which illuminates the glazed student workshops beautifully. These spaces have been designed to be raw and
industrial, a necessary blank canvas for the creative juices to work undisturbed and without undue influence. They are semi-open and constantly in flux, allowing for group work, and a natural rhythm of collaboration, when required. However, this form of design does not come without challenges. Large volume, cube shaped spaces, high ceilings and hard concrete produce an automatic Pavlov sweat on an acoustic consultant. Reverberation (echo) and sound propagation, the enemies of speech intelligibility, a necessity for good communication and teaching, can render a learning environment unusable. To soak up the unwanted sound energy, and prevent
disturbance to other lecturers and students, an acoustic solution, provided by Swedish manufacturers Saint-Gobain Ecophon was investigated by the Estates team. Mathew Barret explains: “We knew that the
“Since moving in we have applied over 700 Ecophon Solo acoustic rafts across our studio and teaching spaces, vastly improving the staff and student teaching and learning experience.” Mathew Barret, Infrastructure Manager, Central Saint Martins
more open design of our new building supported different ways of learning and teaching but, couldn’t predict exactly how this would play out. The University set aside funding for acoustic treatments to be added once we had setled in and knew which spaces needed improving acoustically.” Enter Max Fordham Acoustic Consultants. A short
taxi drive from CSM, Max Fordham have created a sound simulation room where non-acoustic folk can hear, rather than interpret from data or modelled drawings, the pre and post installed sound differences by way of a comparison. Surrounded by an array of carefully positioned speakers, the faculty who atended the simulation recognised immediately, as their own, the noisy, reverberant characteristics of their spaces, despite the fact it was an artificial simulation. The simulated solution was then played, with resultant smiles and approving nods. By this means, any anxiety regarding the cost effectiveness of a proposed installation can be eliminated. Anthony Chilton of Max Fordham explains: “We
find that non-acousticians are much beter able to make design decisions when presented with an aural simulation in our SoundSpace, rather than just with figures which can seem fairly abstract. People generally have an intuitive understanding of acoustics, so a sound simulation is much more useful than writen words in this case.” The crisp, clean lines of the Swedish acoustic rafts
have not detracted from the original architectural theme, nor impose any distraction on the creative processes. Background noise levels have fallen by nearly half and the reverberation problem (echo) eliminated. Speech intelligibility is excellent, making for good communication in a calmer and more relaxed working and learning environment. UB
✥ If you would like the opportunity to visit Central Saint Martins, or for further information, please email:
shane.cryer@
ecophon.co.uk or phone 07771 565370
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