News and Features

Many parents are grappling with home schooling at present, but sooner or later children will be back at school. Perhaps now is the time to look to the future and reflect on better acoustic design for classrooms – in particular spaces well suited to pupils with special educational needs. SEND According to published lists, over…

We are pleased to announce our friends at Ecophon UK recently released an excellent new CPD resource. Created by Ecophon’s Concept Developer for Education Shane Cryer, it’s an ideal solution for architects and other professionals who need to keep up with their CPD whilst working from home. The 25-minutes online video seminar is entitled “Designing…

A groundbreaking new research project has recently been announced. Known as SCReAM, it comes from Enzo de Sena – Assistant Professor in Audio at the University of Surrey’s Institute of Sound Recording. Partnering the project are market-leading consumer electronics company Sonos and computer games innovator Electronic Arts. Adrian James Acoustics and Audio Software Development Limited…

If your child has a hearing impairment, how do you choose the right school? Sometimes the local authority will disagree over the pupil’s needs and the fees payable at a specialist school. In such cases, parents can appeal to a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal, and it’s here that we are often called…

Theatres, concert halls and school music departments all deserve the best possible AV design within available budgets. With a myriad of equipment available, it is difficult and time-consuming to find the right solution. Getting independent advice can result in a smoother ride for the project as well as savings down the line. At Adrian James…

The village of Rackheath lies to the north of Norwich and is part of Broadland District Council’s “growth triangle”. In 2009 it was identified as one of a dozen proposed sites to create new carbon-neutral eco-communities. The government subsequently withdrew this particular programme, but in 2016 a new masterplan was published. The three interested parties…

“We’ve received numerous comments from visitors that they are gobsmacked by how well designed the new building is.” This remark came from Steve Smith, CEO of Havens Hospices, upon completion of the Fair Havens Hospice in Southend-on-Sea. The architects behind Fair Havens were LSI – a practice renowned for its award-winning design of the Arthur…

A side effect of coronavirus has been a huge change in how we enjoy our entertainment. The hospitality industry has been creative in its response and as restrictions have eased, there has been a rise in outdoor events. Throughout the UK, drive-ins have made a comeback and outdoor screens are seeing a surge in demand.…

A new authoratitive text book has just been published featuring a chapter by our Director, Adrian James. Entitled “Uncertainty in Acoustics: Measurement, Prediction and Assessment”, this scholarly publication is aimed at acoustic specialists, mechanical and building service engineers, environmental health officers, architects and building professionals. The book was compiled and edited by the late Bob…

Summer is upon us and teachers are planning for September, when all pupils will be leaving the virtual classroom behind and returning to their schools. For many education establishments, including the Wherry School in Norwich, they have continued to nurture their special educational needs students throughout the lockdown. Opened in 2017, the Wherry School was…