Castle Bailey Quad

We’re delighted to have contributed to St Peter’s College’s vision for sustainable student living in the heart of Oxford.

From the project’s inception, our team collaborated closely with architects and engineers to address the unique acoustic challenges presented by the site’s location.

Our role encompassed a full acoustic scope, assisting in the design of the:

• Building envelopes.
• Internal partitions.
• Room acoustics in common and ancillary areas.
• All internal and external building services.

The holistic approach ensured the seamless integration of acoustic design to every aspect of the project.

External noise and Ventilation

The road that the front elevation faces is not a particularly busy road as it is closed to general traffic. However, through careful surveys and assessments, we identified early on the risk of high noise levels from buses and idling coaches.

Coaches in particular stopped right outside the site, and regularly through the night, leaving their large diesel engines idling.

The road is also a main pedestrian route for the local night life, with a very active scene late at night!

We crafted an approach to the ventilation strategy to ensure students enjoy a peaceful and comfortable environment, free from disruptive external noise. This resulted in a nuanced solution where:

• The ‘southern building’ did not need to rely on opening windows for ventilation and instead had boosted ventilation.
• The building away from the road could open their windows for ventilation, as it is in part shielded from the identified noise sources by the southern building.

The collaboration of the team was crucial in guiding the designs for the facades and internal services.

The agreed strategy was then clearly communicated to Oxford City Council in our planning report.

Internal Acoustics

The soffits in bedrooms and common rooms were exposed for thermal mass as part of the Passivhaus strategy. This therefore called for a robust sound insulation strategy for walls and floors. We assisted with the design of partitions heads and feet and other interfaces in close working with the Architect. We then monitored those details through construction at Stage 5 with a watching brief.

Additionally, other rooms needed consideration for internal acoustics and noise transfer. These included offices, a common room and a facilities workshop.

Outcomes

Working hand-in-hand with the Sustainability Engineer, Architect, and M&E Engineer, we developed integrated solutions that met both acoustic and environmental goals.

The result is a harmonious living space where students can thrive academically and socially, underscoring our commitment to enhancing educational environments through thoughtful acoustic design.

Furthermore, the project has been recognised as a finalist in the Student Accommodation category in the 2025 Education Property Awards.

Architect and image credit: Design Engine

Services Engineer: QODA Consulting