Adrian James
FOUNDER & EXTERNAL CONSULTANT
Adrian James founded Adrian James Acoustics in 1994. He has recently retired after over 30 years at AJA and now acts as an External Consultant for expert witness cases.
Adrian graduated from Imperial College, London in 1984 with an Honours degree in Physics. He then spent two years in contract research into fluid flow dynamics and active noise control, and a further eight years gaining consultancy experience in large acoustics consultancies in London. In that time he was responsible for acoustic aspects of over 150 projects including BBC White City, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, and several concert halls and theatres in England, Ireland and Hong Kong. He also led acoustic studies for the refurbishments of the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Royal Opera House in London.
Adrian James Acoustics began life in 1994, when it was run from Adrian’s home. An independent consultancy specialising in the acoustic design of buildings for the performing arts and education, it has since expanded into other areas of acoustics and noise control. It also found new office space at the Octagon Business Park in rural Norfolk. As Founder of AJA, Adrian has overseen more than a thousand commissions of all sizes in the UK and beyond.
Adrian was a principal author of the DfE Building Bulletin 93 “Acoustics of Schools” and for many years advised government departments and county councils on the acoustics of buildings for education.
He has chaired a number of technical committees and working groups on acoustic measurements, and has published and presented papers in English and French on a wide range of acoustic subjects. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics and a past Chairman of the Association of Noise Consultants. Favourite projects include refurbishments of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg and the Bishopsgate Hall in London, and performing arts centres for Hampton School, King’s School Canterbury, Gresham’s and King’s College School in Wimbledon.
Adrian now divides his time between racing ridiculously fast sailing dinghies, sailing his much more sedate Cornish Crabber across the Channel, and singing in several choirs.