Sandy Brown Wins 2025 ANC Performance Spaces Award for The Halls, Wolverhampton

The transformative refurbishment of The Halls is an exemplary case of how intelligent acoustic design can restore and reinvigorate a beloved civic venue.

Originally opened in the 1930s, the Civic Hall and Wulfrun Hall have been revitalised into a state-of-the-art performance complex. With increased capacities, the upgraded venue now meets contemporary expectations for live events, seamlessly blending the preservation of its listed architectural heritage with modern functionality – all underpinned by a rigorous acoustic strategy.

Acoustic design was central to overcoming the project’s challenges and delivering flexibility for a diverse range of performance types. New seating, internal finishes, and a complete roof replacement were supported by 3D acoustic modelling to ensure optimal sound distribution within both main halls. Sound insulation was a key focus – not only between the Civic and Wulfrun Halls but also between performance spaces and newly created bar and ancillary areas, enabling simultaneous events without acoustic compromise.

The project’s technical execution and social value have been lauded by the council, project architects and judges at the ANC.

City of Wolverhampton Council stated, “our vision of reimagining an iconic institution that will continue to bring joy to locals and visitors has been realised” and project architects remarked that “a dynamic, adaptable venue has been created that honours historical significance while embracing contemporary needs.” Praise from the judges highlighted how fundamental acoustic principles were applied within a challenging heritage setting to create a venue with significant cultural impact.

In addition to now being a premier performance space, The Halls stands as a model demonstrating how acoustics can transform historic venues for modern audiences.

Jessica Wright, principal acoustic engineer, presented the project at the annual 2025 ANC conference and received the prestigious award on behalf of Sandy Brown, shares that, “After a lot of hard work that went into the project, I’m proud that The Halls has won an ANC Award and has been recognised by the industry for its acoustic design. The scheme has been very successful—it looks great, but more importantly for us, it sounds great.”