acoustics capability statement

ACOUSTICS CAPABILITY STATEMENTNORTHROP CONSULTING ENGINEERS

ACOUSTICS

www.northrop.com.au

What’s in here?

Why Northrop for acoustic projects?

Key Northrop people

4

14

Our services

Additional acoustic project experience

6

17

Recent acoustic experience

Contactus

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18

OUR APPROACH

We invest the time to fully understand both your business and the project.

We approach every project with a wealth of knowledge and an open mind, and believe the most creative solutions come from a collaborative approach.

We encourage your input and ideas, and those of your design team, at all stages of the project.

We love what we do. And know the right questions to ask, to identify issues early - often saving you time and money.

OUR DESIGN TOOLS

In addition to expertise and hardware, we’ve invested in expensive and sophisticated software for acoustic work and modelling - giving us an edge on other providers.

Consider the design of large auditoria, concert halls and theatres for example. Imagine being able to hear what something will sound like before a structure is complete.

Our special design tools enable us to create a 3D model. By combining this with a ray tracing algorithm, we can simulate how things will sound. Our highly trained acoustic team can alter the parameters to optimise the design for best acoustic performance and sound quality.

STABLE AND ESTABLISHED

Established in 1976, Northrop is a locally-owned engineering consultancy with ten offices and over 400 people across NSW, QLD, VIC and the ACT.

Being employee owned, the team you work with has a direct investment in the success of your project, and you get to work with our most senior and talented people.

As part of Northrop, our acoustics team is in the unique position of being able to draw on expertise from other building-related disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, audio visual & ICT, hydraulic & fire, ASP3 and vertical transport, as well as civil, structural and sustainability.

We’ve provided these services for over 40 years, and consequently have a huge resource of knowledge and expertise to draw upon.

CONTACT NORTHROP TODAY

Whether it’s improving speech privacy in an office environment, minimising school noise for the surrounding community, ensuring that audiences hear every note clearly in a large concert hall, controlling rooftop mechanical noise impact upon the neighborhood, or designing a building façade to stop traffic or aircraft noise intrusion, Northrop has the experience, tools and knowhow to help with any acoustics project.

Northrop’s creative and highly skilled acoustic engineers are passionate about design for sound and unique acoustic spaces, offering practical, cost effective and timely solutions.

We provide consultancy services in all areas of acoustics, noise, vibration control and audio-visual design.

And work on all types of developments; from individual dwellings, schools, aged care facilities, concert halls, through to large scale residential or commercial blocks.

We’re passionate about performance and quality, and can help at all phases of construction - from masterplanning and concept design, through to design completion and certification.

Over many years, we’ve worked closely with government, architects, developers, builders, private businesses and individuals. We understand their individual needs and provide tailor made acoustic designs to suit.

We’ve successfully delivered loads of acoustic projects as part of multi-disciplinary teams or added value as a stand-alone service.

Northrop’s experienced acoustics team have diverse experimental and theoretical academic backgrounds which gives them the confidence to innovate effectively.

Our experience, communication and coordination skills, combined with our commitment to excellence in design, sets us apart.

With detailed measurements and sophisticated modelling technology, we deliver acoustic designs that seamlessly integrate with building services design and architectural vision.

Why Northrop for acoustic projects?

MULTI-AWARD WINNING

47OF OUR SENIOR

PEOPLE

OWNED BY

OFFICES ACROSS NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC

10

REPRESENTATION ON ALL MAJOR INDUSTRY BOARDS

YEARS SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY

40+

PEOPLE

400+

MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING

CONSULTANCY

“Northrop’s acoustic team provided expert advice on Wilton Public School and has worked toward the common goal for the community. Collaboration, coordination and responsiveness are the benefits achieved from engaging a multidisciplinary services company on this project. I highly recommend them for any acoustic project.”

Elise Watson, Project Manager, MBB

Northrop services

Civil

Structural

Building Services

Sustainability

CIVIL

STRUCTURAL

BUILDING SERVICES

SUSTAINABILITY

• Communities & climate resilience

• Existing building & wellbeing • Green building design

• Land development - including feasibility & masterplanning

• Urban redevelopment & infrastructure

• Buildings & infill development• Roads & infrastructure• Flood modelling• Transport & traffic• Water & environment

• Buildings• Infrastructure & bridges• Remedial & diagnostics

• Mechanical • Electrical• Acoustics• Hydraulic & fire • Audio visual & ICT • Specialist lighting • ASP3

MULTIDISCIPLINARY OFFERING

ARCHITECTS We help you to achieve your vision of function and aesthetics.

PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS We deliver high quality, comfortable spaces.

Northrop can help you

Acoustics

FAÇADE Façade acoustics design, airborne sound insulation for facade elements including glazing.

ARCHITECTURAL Architectural acoustics, design of auditoria and concert halls, optimisation for speech clarity and intelligibility, design for acoustic privacy.

EVERY DAY Room acoustics, design and modelling of performance for everyday spaces, optimisation of acoustic parameters and internal finishes.

SPECIALISEDSpecialised spaces, acoustic optimisation for AV services and specialist sound environments.

CERTIFICATIONAcoustic testing and certification for building elements, spaces and services.

ALL PHASESAcoustics for all phases of construction, master planning, concept design, design development, detailed design, design completion and certification.

VIBRATIONVibration design and monitoring for machinery, buildings and infrastructure.

MECHANICAL NOISE Mechanical and building services noise control, plant design.

TRANSPORTATION NOISE Transportation noise, traffic, rail and aircraft.

ENVIRONMENTEnvironmental noise impact assessments, residential, commercial and industrial.

COMPLIANCEBuilding acoustics design, airborne sound insulation for partitions and floors, NCC compliance.

GOVERNMENT We add value by providing functional and acoustically comfortable spaces for the community.

BUILDERS We offer practical, buildable and cost-effective acoustic solutions.

DEVELOPERS We help navigate planning pathways, creating attractive spaces that deliver a return on investment.

The Chau Chak Wing Museum located at Sydney University, is due to be completed in 2020. It will consolidate the university’s existing collections as well as showcasing future exhibitions of art, science, technology and natural history.

Northrop have been engaged by FDC and Sydney University to provide acoustic engineering services, in addition to civil and structural.

The project includes a large floating box comprising of 32m spanning transfer walls and 15.5 cantilever walls, constructed out of reinforced concrete (which will also comprise the finished façade of the building).

The acoustic design team worked with the wider project team to deliver an environmental noise assessment and acoustic construction advice for insulation to sensitive spaces.

Interior spatial acoustics design including acoustic 3D modelling and auralization was undertaken for specialist spaces to demonstrate the effects of various acoustic treatments.

Collaboration with the technical stakeholders form the university and the audio-visual engineers ensured the best outcomes for acoustic comfort and speech intelligibility.

ClientsFDC Construction

& Fitout

ServicesAcoustics, Civil, Structural

Value$50 Million

Chau Chak Wing Museum, Sydney University

Currently in construction

Recent acoustic experience

RFBI proposed a complete redevelopment of their Hawkins Masonic Retirement Village in Edgeworth.

A detailed presentation was provided to RFBI to ensure the client and the design teams fully understood the new proposal for the new facility. This provided the client an opportunity to ask questions and challenge the design philosophies to ensure that the proposed arrangements were the right ones.

Our acoustics team closely coordinated with the internal mechanical design to ensure the interior walls complied with the BCA - the façade design was very complex with the driveway leading to an underground loading dock adjacent to resident’s rooms, as well as noisy kitchen exhaust fans on the roof.

There were several advanced technological systems required such as a Demand Response Enabling Device (DRED), connected to the HVAC system in order to provide the most cost-effective running costs and battery storage was installed to monitor overall power demands and inject the power from batteries during peak periods.

ClientsPlanix Projects

ServicesAcoustics, ASP3, Electrical,

Hydraulic & Fire, Mechanical, Sustainability

Value$40 Million

RFBI Hawkins Masonic Village

Completion 2020

“We’re a multidisciplinary consulting team offering comprehensive engineering services packaged under one roof. We’re able to expertly coordinate these services to achieve excellent results.”Peter Young Principal & Mechanical Discipline Manager

Northrop worked closely with the ECI builder, project managers and the RFBI to deliver the building services design to contract documentation as part of a D&C procurement strategy.

The RFBI Berry Masonic Village required an uplift of the existing spaces to provide a better facility for their residents and families. This involved an upgrade of the 20-year-old lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling technologies, relocation of the main entry to another location and provision of on-site parking for visiting families.

The existing building services plant and equipment were upgraded to meet the current Australian standards and national construction codes. These items included new fire hydrant and booster assemblies, electrical switchboards with safety switches and air-conditioning systems installed throughout.

The acoustics design was challenging as this facility is situated in very close vicinity of local railways. To ensure improved insulation performance, the Northrop team completed several site measurements, gathered data, and held close discussions with the local council to provide a workable solution.

Prior to the completion of the design, a presentation was made to RFBI to ensure the client and the design teams fully understood the proposal and had the opportunity to challenge the design philosophies on certain systems.

ClientsPlanix Projects

ServicesAcoustics, ASP3, Electrical,

Hydraulic & Fire, Mechanical

Value$2 Million

RFBI Berry Masonic Village

Completion 2020

Northrop’s acoustics and remedial services were required on this 36-storey commercial office building during underground Sydney Metro tunnelling works.

To certify the accuracy of the environmental impact studies undertaken, the client required vibration monitoring and capturing of the visible structural elements, prior to and during construction of the metro tunnel.

To ensure there would be no negative impact, further research was undertaken by Northrop to understand the impacts of the vibrations, in consultation with industry experts and government advice.

The Northrop remedial team captured the interior conditions throughout the building via detailed inspections. Abseiling inspections on the façade were also carried out in order to capture the existing condition of the building façade prior to any possible impact from Sydney Metro works.

By monitoring the vibration levels in the basement of the building during the tunnel construction, our acoustics team were able to track and provide timely reporting details if any damage occurred due to the works.

ClientsLendlease

ServicesAcoustics, Remedial

1 O’ Connell Street, Sydney

Completion 2020

Northrop’s Building Services team worked closely with the builder and the design team to explore several options to meet the project’s budget requirements while maintaining the client’s vision.

“Sydney’s growing underground infrastructure is placing a strain on the finite geotechnical and structural capacity and the ground movement as a result of tunnelling and underground construction exposes CBD buildings to the risk of structural damage. By monitoring the baseline vibration levels before, during and after the tunnelling and construction of the Sydney Metro, Northrop acoustics have provided documentation of vibration level exceedances should the building encounter any damage during the construction phase.”Isabella Adlington Acoustics Consultant

“The building had a major expansion which included the addition of new buildings, plus extension or refurbishment of existing ones. The acoustic team had a major role in design of various buildings, acoustic design and acoustic separation of spaces and revision of architectural elements. As part of the planning requirements, the acoustic team also provided a noise and vibration impact assessment from the nearby rail line, using measurements from the rail line and provided recommendations for compliance.”Jamshid Ameli Senior Acoustic Consultant

Northrop were engaged by Muswellbrook Shire Council under a HDC arrangement with fjmt to provide full building services, structural, civil and ESD engineering services for their new entertainment and conference centre. The proposed development will consist of a 500-seat theatre, ‘black box’ (which is a small utilitarian performance space), and conference and event facilities including a restaurant.

We are currently in design development of this exciting project.

Muswellbrook Regional Entertainmentand Convention Centre

This project is located on the ground floor of a four-storey heritage building in the prominent boutique tourist shopping area of The Rocks, opposite the Circular Quay Overseas Passenger Cruise Terminal.

The key consideration for successful delivery was to engage the right team with adequate resources and experience capable of delivering the design and documentation within four weeks of a tenant being secured.

The Northrop team expedited site inspections highlighting all the risk items relating to compliance including National Construction Code and Fire Safety.

Our internal project co-ordinator lead the team for pre-negotiations with the certifying authorities to avoid delays and we commenced design documentation after gaining clarity on the certifier’s requirements.

The acoustics team considered all the constraints including the heritage limitations and came up with design solutions for the interior spaces to be acoustically right. This included the acoustic requirements of Australian standard AS2107 and NCC (BCA) and consideration to limit the noise intrusions into the building and noise breakouts to the surrounding sensitive receivers.

117-119 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney

Macquarie University’s Central Courtyard Precinct Redevelopment will see the transformation of 68000m2 of the campus site - including the Central Courtyard and four surrounding buildings. The works will include a new on-campus accommodation for students (341 beds planned in the initial phase), a new graduation hall, retail areas (including bar), upgraded Lincoln Building with food and beverage outlets and a new location for the current Research Office.

Northrop have been engaged for a peer review role acting as technical adviser to FDC and their

Macquarie University Central Courtyard

ClientsDepartment of Planning,

Industry and Environment

ServicesAcoustics, Electrical,

Hydraulic & Fire, Mechanical

Value$0.5 Million

Completion 2020

ClientsFDC Construction

& Fitout

ServicesAcoustic, Electrical,

Hydraulic & Fire, Mechanical, Sustainability

Value$500 Million

Currently in construction

ClientsFJMT, Muswellbrook

Shire Council

ServicesAcoustic, AV/ICT, Civil,

Electrical, Hydraulic & Fire, Mechanical, Structural,

Vertical Transport Value

$60 Million

respective contractors. We are involved in all aspects of the design from acoustics, mechanical, electrical and hydraulic and fire. We are technically reviewing all documentation to ensure adherence to the Australian Standard, industry practice and Macquarie University design brief.

The tight programme means that Northrop cannot review each discipline in isolation, therefore coordinated responses and timely reviews are paramount to the success of this project.

Currently in design

Other issues resolved included Sydney Water compliance for trade waste, HVAC system upgrades, electrical and communications upgrades also formed part of the due diligence.

Following two co-ordination meetings, client review and architectural validation, the project was sent out to tender within four weeks.

The Moree Civic Precinct (MCP) is the flagship cultural, arts and entertainment asset of the Moree Plains Community located in the heart of the Moree CBD. The existing precinct lacked modern facilities and the functionality required to provide a venue capable of meeting user and community expectations. The proposed refurbishment of the precinct will see development of a modern, high quality, cultural, entertainment, conference and multi-use space for Moree residents and visitors, as well as providing much needed upgrades to ensure that the precinct can continue servicing the community in the future.

Northrop was engaged to carry out acoustic, AV, ASP3, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical and structural services for the project.

The hall, with a capacity of 600 seats, had such poor sound quality that it was no longer used for the usual presentations, concerts and ceremonies. Odeon modelling was undertaken by our acoustics team, which compared the original state of the hall to the proposed upgrades. Background noise measurements conducted on site were incorporated into the model. There were heritage constraints to the building, so proposed upgrades to improve acoustic quality had to be sensitive to this. Upgrades were also proposed to reduce the reverberation time, to improve clarity and speech intelligibility.

ClientsNSW Department of

Public Works

ServicesAcoustic, ASP3, AV,

Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural

Moree Civic Precinct

Currently in design

Our AV team was challenged with constraints typical of an audio visual solution retrofitted to an existing facility, such as hard walls and mixed flooring surfaces. Through careful coordination with the acoustics team, we were able to work around these limitations and devise a solution that would benefit the community for years to come.

At Northrop, our acoustics and audio visual teams work hand in hand, using sophisticated software and joint expertise to give our clients in the performing arts sector the sound results they deserve.

Jamshid AmeliSenior Acoustics Consultant BSc (Mech Eng) MSc (Noise & Vibrations) MAAS

Bringing a wealth of experience, Jamshid has been in acoustic consulting for over a decade, successfully handling all types of projects involving environmental noise, transportation noise, mechanical noise and building acoustics.

Jamshid enjoys working collaboratively with clients and colleagues. He focuses on understanding a client’s project requirements and delivering results, on time and on budget.

Jamshid has also worked as a noise and vibration engineer in the automotive industry and has skills in design and development.

With a mechanical engineering background, Jamshid extends his acoustic skills to integrate with other building services and engineering disciplines.

Isabella Adlington Acoustics Consultant MArchSc (Acoustics) BSc (Physics) AAS (Grad.)

Isabella brings considerable skills in architectural and building acoustics to the Northrop team.

She takes an analytical approach to projects. focusing on finding the best design solutions and outcomes that are both practical and cost-effective meeting client’s needs.

Isabella seeks to combine both aesthetic and functional considerations in designs and enjoys the challenges of combining acoustical aspects with architectural vision, and integration with other building services and engineering disciplines.

Key Northrop people

Peter YoungPrincipal & Mechanical Discipline Manager BE (Mechanical)

Peter has over 25 years experience in mechanical engineering, working across many sectors in both Australia and South East Asia.

As manager of Northrop’s mechanical team, Peter dedicates his expertise and leadership skills to growing the group and identifying new opportunities – particularly in the health and specialist industrial sectors.

He contributes his significant knowledge and skills to a range of challenging and diverse acoustic projects and enjoys building strong client relationships.

Peter adopts a customer-centric approach to projects, with a philosophy that what is best for the project and client, is best for the business. He is committed to employing innovative methods and adding value to both projects and the wider industry.

Tommy Sailing Audio Visual EngineerBE (Electrical) MIEAust M-AVIXA

Tommy is an audio visual consultant with a depth of experience spanning performance halls, lecture theatres, corporate meeting and collaboration spaces, and sporting venues. As the leader of Northrop’s audio visual and ICT services offering, Tommy is dedicated to ensuring that the right sounds are heard by the right people, at the right time. For this reason, Tommy collaborates closely with the Acoustics team, using science to design the best-sounding spaces first, before applying the technology required to make these spaces work. Adopting a ‘whole building services’ approach to audio visual design ensures that lighting, acoustics and technology are harmoniously applied to create venues Tommy’s clients can be wowed by, generating asset value and promoting the arts for years to come.

Additional acoustic project experience

AGED CARE AND HEALTH • Anglicare Nowra • Casula Residential Aged Care Facility • Coffs Harbour Health Campus Upgrade • Eastlakes Shopping Centre, Eastlakes • Kangy Angy Rail Maintenance Facility • Minchinbury Manor Aged Care Facility, Rooty Hill • MRI Rooms, Westmead Hospital • Nepean Private Hospital • Nowra Regional Health, Nowra • Presbyterian Aged Care, Thornleigh • Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay • Twilight Glades Bay Aged Care, Gladesville• Uniting Aged Care Yamba • Veterinary Hospital, Vineyard • Wyong to Warnervale Pipeline, Warnervale

COMMERCIAL • ARB Workshops, Wentworthville • Arthur J. Gallagher Melbourne & North Sydney• Barden Fresh Produce, Kemps Creek • Dan Murphy’s, Mosman • Gap Bluff Centre, Watson Bay • George Weston Foods office fit-out, North Ryde • One Wharf Road, Sydney, instructure office fit-out• Plus Fitness Jordan Springs • PTW Architects Office fit-out, Aurora Place Sydney • Service Station, Bourke St, Waterloo • Sutton’s Motors Homebush • Sydney Trains Central Hub fit-out, Clyde • Tesla Service Centre, Alexandria• WestPoint Shopping Centre, Blacktown

COMMUNITY • Community Centre, Jordan Springs • Cooke Park Multipurpose Pavillion • Darling Exchange Library • Liverpool Baptist Church • Rowe Street Carpark, Eastwood • Sydney Dance Company

EDUCATION • ACU North Sydney Campus Physio Laboratory • Brigidine College, Randwick • Chabad North Shore Childcare Centre, College

Crescent, St Ives • Eileen O’Connor Catholic College, Lewisham • Fairfield Forum Childcare Centre, Fairfield• Little Giants Childcare Centre, Oran Park

• Loreto Normanhurst Library • Lucas Gardens School • Macquarie University Central Courtyard • Pymble Ladies College, Pymble • Richmond High School Gymnasium and Hall • Senses Child Care Centre, Milson’s Point • Shirley St Childcare Centre, Wollstonecraft • St. Mark’s College Performing Arts Building • St. Rita’s College Performing Art’s Building • TAFE Meadowbank • UNSW Cliffbrook Campus, Coogee • USYD Chau Chak Wing Museum • UTS Graduate Research School • UTS Proto Space • UTS Touring Hall, Powerhouse Museum • Western Sydney University MARCS Institute

BabyLab, Westmead

HOSPITALITY • Cake Wine Bar, Redfern • Doltone House – Milperra • East Leagues Club, Bondi • Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney • Huntsbury Hotel, Lewisham• Karaoke Bar, Church St, Parramatta • Kogarah Golf Club, Kogarah • Langham Hotel Miller’s Point • RSL Club, North Ryde and Parramatta• Sussex Street Hotel, Sydney • The Highline – Bankstown • West Sports Club, Croydon

INDUSTRIAL • ACE Cryogenic facility, Kings Park • BOC Gases, Lidcombe • Joe White Malting, Minto • Premier Mushrooms, Glossodia

RESIDENTIAL • 23-27 Harold Street North Parramatta • 38 Stewart Street Wollongong • 68A Queenscliff Road, Queenscliff • Dougherty Apartments, Chatswood • Elaine Estate, Point Piper • Parks Apartments, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst • Poly Horizon Apartments, Epping • St. Andrews College, University of Sydney • Top Spring St. Leonards • Wrights Road Apartments, Drummoyne

BOWRAL02 4861 [email protected] 9A ‘High Street Bowral’ 310-312 Bong Bong Street Bowral NSW 2576

BRISBANE 07 3365 0400 [email protected] Level 9, 200 Mary Street Brisbane QLD 4000

CANBERRA 02 6285 1822 [email protected] SAP House, Level 6, 224 Bunda Street Canberra ACT 2601

CENTRAL COAST02 4365 1668 [email protected] Level 1, Suite 4 257-259 Central Coast Highway Erina NSW 2250

COFFS HARBOUR02 5603 [email protected] 6, 27 Orlando Street, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

MELBOURNE 03 9600 [email protected] Level 3, 520 Collins StreetMelbourne VIC 3000

NEWCASTLE 02 4943 1777 [email protected] Level 1, 215 Pacific Highway Charlestown NSW 2290

PARRAMATTA 02 9241 4188 [email protected] Suite 2.01, Level 2, 3 Horwood Place Parramatta NSW 2150

SYDNEY 02 9241 4188 [email protected] Level 11, 345 George Street Sydney NSW 2000

WOLLONGONG 02 4226 3333 [email protected] Level 1, 57 Kembla Street Wollongong NSW 2500

W W W . N O R T H R O P . C O M . A U

CONTACT US

acoustics capability statement

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