Company News - Cass Allen Associates

Company News:
Residential development on a London Traffic Island is completed A novel use of unused space has been completed on a South London traffic island. Having busy roads immediately on all four sides of the building posed several acoustic design problems for us to overcome. However, commissioning tests carried out on the finished development showed that the stringent noise conditions imposed as part of the planning permission for the site had been achieved.
Cass Allen recording awarded 'Recording of the Month' by BBC Music A recording of Schubert's Winterreise performed by James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook has been named 'Recording of the Month' by BBC Music Magazine, and goes onto the short list for '2012 Recording of the Year'. The disc was recorded over a three day period in the beautiful acoustics of Potton Hall in Suffolk, which contributed greatly to the quality of recording achieved and admired by the critics..'one of the indispensable readings and also one of the best balanced'. The full review can be seen here. This disc completes the Schubert cycle that Cass Allen has recorded over a three year period for Orchid Classics, which also includes Die Schone Mullerin, and Schwanengesang.
Combined Hotel and Data Centre nears completion We have started commissioning tests on this hotel and data centre project, which is being constructed by MACE and has been running through Cass Allen since the early planning stages in 2008. The juxtaposition of a noisy data centre and a hotel which prides itself on providing a good night's sleep caused a few acoustic design headaches, but the tests have shown that the insulation between the two uses is performing exactly as designed.
Encapsulation of Power Networks substation We have been advising on the technically complex challenge of constructing a luxury hotel and apartment blocks above an existing substation. The first stage is to encapsulate the substation in a steel-lined concrete chamber some 200m long, 38m high and four storeys high. We believe this is only the third time this type of project has been attempted in the world and of particular concern is the possibility of acoustic resonance associated with the transformer hum. Another challenge is the need for the substation to remain operational throughout the construction process.
Mixed Use masterplanning adjacent to Steelworks We have just completed acoustic surveys on Teeside associated with a large mixed use development comprising approximately 42,000m2 of commercial and residential space. The site is complicated acoustically, being bounded on one side by a rail line and on the other by a large steelworks. Our work will initially assist with the masterplanning for the development and then carry through to the layout and design of individual blocks.
Crematorium completed We have just completed commissioning tests for this new state of the art crematorium. The brief was to design the chapel as a broadcast studio so that services could be seen around the world by people unable to attend in person. The unusual 'Cycloid' barrel roof posed interesting acoustic challenges, but extensive 3D modelling at the design stage gave us confidence that speech intelligibility would be excellent, and this has been borne out by the commissioning tests.
New Steam Museum Our Air Quality and Noise teams have joined forces to help gain planning permission for a new National Museum for Steam. The video shows us acquiring baseline noise and particulates data on site. This information will be used (together with noise monitoring data) to carry out 3D dispersion modelling with the aim of reassuring the local Council that residents will not be inconvenienced by noise or particulate emissions from the proposal.
New Mosque for Cambridge We have started work on assessing the air quality implications for a large new mosque in Cambridge. The mosque is three to four stories high and will hold up to around 1000 worshippers when complete.
Refurb to Art Gallery We have been appointed to carry out acoustic design and testing for the renovation and extension work to be carried out to this 18th century building. The project will create a new visitor facility and centre of excellence for the gallery.
Royal Norfolk Showground We have started work on the internal acoustic design for the refurbishment of the exhibition hall at this prestigious venue.
Simon Pegg Recording As part of our ongoing support of the Lenny Trusler Children's Foundation we have just completed a recording of Simon Pegg reading the poems of Spike Milligan. The current target is to raise money for an incubator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Whittington Hospital in London .
Proms in the Park Another successful year of Proms in the Park with music emissions controlled by Cass Allen. Thankfully, the spectacular fireworks that finished off the show were exempt from the Council's stringent noise limits!
New School, London Cass Allen has been appointed to carry out the detailed acoustic design for this London school renovation. The building poses particular difficulties due to the location – very near to Heathrow Airport 's southern runway, directly next door to Twickenham Stadium. The project requires careful design of glazing and ventilation measures.
Wind Farm - East Anglia Cass Allen have been appointed to advise on the Noise Impact of a multi-turbine scheme in East Anglia. Due to the scale of the development and the proximity of dwellings a full Environmental Impact Assessment will be required.
3000 Home Extension to Town Cass Allen have been appointed to assess the environment noise impact of a large mixed use extension to a Norfolk town. The extension will contain around 3000 homes together with commercial, education and entertainment facilities. Survey work and noise modelling is currently in progress.
Cass Allen get all starry.... In a bit of light relief from our more usual work, we have just completed an audio recording for Orchid Classics of Ralph Fiennes reading Kipling and Clive Owen reading Spike Milligan. This is soon to be followed by further spoken word recordings for Orchid of Danny Devito. Further examples of our electroacoustic and recording work can be seen here.
Anaerobic Digestion Cass Allen have been appointed to advise on achieving planning permission for a new anaerobic digestion facility in Cambridgeshire. The plant is designed to process 50,000 tonnes of biodegradable organic material per year, producing 2.5MW of power.