Brainkind is a UK based charity that supports people living with brain injuries and other neurological conditions. The Brainkind Neurological Centre in York is described as ‘an innovative, purpose-built independent hospital providing specialist neurobehavioural assessment and post-acute rehabilitation for people with a non-progressive acquired brain injury.’

Located at the Chocolate Works in York, the building spans two storeys and is adjacent to residential properties and York Racecourse. Facilities include en-suite bedrooms (some with full tracking hoists), transitional living apartments and assisted daily living kitchens and laundry rooms. Additional ancillary spaces include a gym, sensory room, a craft and music space, family visitation, faith room, meeting and interview rooms, and offices.

Sandy Brown were appointed by GMI Construction Group to provide acoustic consultancy services from planning and design through construction and commissioning.

Services included baseline surveys and setting plant noise emission limits, as well as measurements of noise from events at the racecourse and advising on building envelope sound insulation to control noise ingress and supporting the subsequent planning applications.

During the design stages, the brief was to deliver high quality acoustic design in line with HTM 08-01 Acoustics Technical Memorandum – Specialist Services 2013 which sets out guidance regarding the acoustic design of healthcare facilities including internal and external noise levels, airborne and impact sound insulation, room acoustics, and vibration from building services and medical equipment. There was also a requirement to achieve acoustic credits under BREEAM New Construction 2018.

The most significant design challenges related to noise from the racecourse. The building envelope design was developed to include acoustically laminated double glazing and high-performance attenuated ventilation to mitigate this for the most affected facades.

The gym included free weights and so specialist impact resistant treatments to the floors were advised to avoid excessive noise and vibration transfer to neighbouring sensitive spaces. Reverberation within the double-height central link area was carefully considered, with sound absorbent treatments incorporated to prevent excessive sound build-up.