120-121 High Street, Oxford is a neo-Gothic listed building in the heart of the city. During the nineteenth century it was the site of businesses such as saddler’s, a bootmaker’s store and James Russell’s “pianoforte saloon”.  It was also the location of Oxford’s first ever bank, with various banks occupying the building for over 150 years.

In 2017 NatWest bank relocated to new premises and the building’s owner Lincoln College, undertook a £5 million redesign.  Now the prestigious Ivy restaurant has opened at the site and the floors above have been converted into four stylish apartments, complete with period fittings.

We were appointed at Stage 3 of the project to carry out noise assessments and design acoustic insulation for the apartments.  Our brief was to follow the National Planning Policy Framework and the policies of the Oxford Local Plan (2001-2016), part of which was to restrict mechanical ventilation plant noise.  We visited the site during the day and at night, carrying out synchronised measurements of road traffic noise at street level and from the upper floors.

Working alongside CBG Consultants, FJMT Studio and Donald Insall Associates, we established the level of work required to upgrade the sound insulation between the restaurant and flats above.  Our solutions included recommending high rated acoustic glazing to help reduce noise from the main high street and an upgrade to separating constructions in order to meet the latest building regulation requirements.

With these design elements now in place and The Ivy restaurant open for business, this part of Oxford’s high street has taken another step in its long history.

Client: Lincoln College Oxford

Architects: Donald Insall Associates / FJMT Studio

Contractors: CBG Consultants

Contract value: £5m

Photo credits: AJA / OpenTable