Reverb Testing, Design and Acostic Panel Install

Acoustic Design and Testing for a Community Centre and Offices.

Acoustic Design and Validation for Kirkgate Community Centre

The Kirkgate Community Centre in Shipley, West Yorkshire, has recently undergone a transformative £3 million redevelopment, breathing new life into a historic building that once served as a church school. Funded by the Shipley Towns Fund and other grants, the project aimed to create a Sustainable Community Hub—a vibrant space for charities Hive and Kirkgate Community Centre to deliver services that tackle social isolation, promote wellbeing, and provide inclusive activities for all ages.

As part of this ambitious renovation, NOVA Acoustics Ltd was appointed to deliver a comprehensive acoustic solution—from initial design through to installation and final validation testing. Our goal was to ensure that the newly refurbished spaces offered optimal acoustic comfort for a wide range of uses, including meetings, training sessions, cinema screenings, choirs, exercise classes, and live performances.

Acoustic Design Strategy

Our involvement began with a detailed acoustic assessment of six key rooms within the centre: the Ives Room, Priestley Room, Small Hall, Callard Room, Main Hall, and Café Area. The initial reverberation survey revealed that all rooms exceeded the recommended reverberation time (RT) limits outlined in BB93:2015, which are essential for ensuring speech clarity and acoustic comfort in teaching, performance, and dining environments.

To address these issues, we developed a bespoke acoustic design strategy that included:

Class A wall absorbers
Ceiling rafts for rooms with limited wall space
Strategic placement of absorptive materials to break up parallel reflective surfaces and reduce flutter echoes

Each room was modelled using Odeon 3D acoustic software to predict post-treatment performance and guide installation decisions. For example, the Callard Room—used for both meetings and cinema screenings—required careful tuning to improve speech intelligibility and reduce echo across the frequency spectrum.

Installation and Validation

Following the design phase, Nova Acoustics Ltd undertook the installation of acoustic panelling across the specified rooms. Wall absorbers were installed at low level on perpendicular walls to maximise effectiveness while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the restored architecture.

After installation, we returned to the site to conduct validation testing. The results confirmed that our acoustic treatments had successfully reduced reverberation times across all rooms to within the recommended criteria. The spaces now offer significantly improved acoustic environments, supporting clear communication, enjoyable performances, and comfortable group activities.

The client was extremely pleased with the outcome, noting the noticeable improvement in sound quality and the positive impact on the usability of the spaces.

Outcome

The acoustic assessment enabled the project team to confidently pursue multiple BREEAM credits, contributing to the overall environmental and operational quality of the development. The building is now equipped with a robust acoustic strategy that supports occupant comfort, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance.

Why NOVA Acoustics?

At NOVA Acoustics, we specialise in delivering end-to-end acoustic solutions that combine technical precision with practical insight. Our work at Kirkgate Community Centre is a testament to our commitment to creating spaces that sound as good as they look.

We bring together expertise from across our service areas:

Building & Room Acoustics – Tailoring reverberation control strategies for multi-use spaces such as halls, meeting rooms, and cinemas.
Acoustic Panelling Supply & Install – Supplying and fitting high-performance Class A absorbers to meet design targets.

Whether you’re planning a refurbishment, a new build, or a specialist acoustic installation, NOVA Acoustics Ltd is your trusted partner for acoustic excellence.