Circle Square is a large-scale mixed-use scheme that provides 1.2 million sq. ft of commercial office space and 100,000 sq. ft ground floor retail and leisure space over three major phases. Located in Manchester’s city centre Oxford Road Corridor, the is on the former BBC site following its relocation to MediaCity in 2011.

Sandy Brown provided acoustic advice in relation to the acoustic design of buildings 2, 3 and 4. This included two speculative office towers, retail units and the fit-out of seven floors to include co-working spaces, meeting rooms, lounges and a large conferencing suite.

Site noise measurements were used to create an environmental noise model of the development. This was used to assess facade sound insulation requirements, construction noise impact and building services noise egress. Advice was also provided on internal architectural acoustics and building services noise control.

Key acoustic design issues were:
• Design of the facade to control noise ingress and flanking sound transfer
• Control of sound reverberation and transfer through large double-height open plan foyers
• Assessment and control of noise from rooftop plant to meet requirements of planning conditions outside nearby residential accommodation.