UWE Student Accommodation Phase 3
We provided a full scope of services for this, the largest Passivhaus scheme in the UK. The project comprised the new construction of 900 student bedrooms across three buildings on the Frenchay campus for the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol.
This project started shortly before the first lockdown was introduced in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In the short window prior to the first lockdown, Attune was able to complete a full scope of sound surveys and noise impact assessments for planning at RIBA Stage 2. From there, we assisted the Architect, MEP and Sustainability Engineers all the way through the design to RIBA Stage 4.
The scheme presented a number of areas where clear and detailed advice was required on acoustics, including:
- Early input to assess the pros and cons of different structural forms for sound insulation.
- Noise intrusion through the building envelope, considering the Passivhaus requirements.
- Internal sound insulation, with assistance on interpretation of Part E of the Building Regulations.
- Reverberation times in common rooms for different uses, with 3D room acoustic modeling employed.
- Noise transfer to student bedrooms from other internal areas, such as laundry rooms and common areas.
- Crosstalk attenuation between rooms.
- Noise from air source heat pump and AHU plant areas on each roof, with specifications provided for noise mitigation.
The project is approaching completion, with Attune having provided design assistance to the contractor, Vinci, through the construction phase at Stage 5. Attune liaised with the Approved Inspector to agree a reduced regimen of sound insulation testing due to the scale of the development. Our operatives also carried out the testing, demonstrating passes throughout with all tests lodged with the Sound Insulation Testing and Measurement Association (SITMA), of which we are a member organisation.