Arup acoustic expertise supports the launch programme of Oxford University’s Sohmen Concert Hall

The team worked closely with university representatives and musicians to develop the acoustic brief and designs for the concert hall, black box and rehearsal room, which opened to the university academic community on 13 October 2025. As the world’s first Passivhaus-standard concert hall, the Sohmen Concert Hall, alongside the black box, is among the quietest music performance spaces in the UK.

The concert hall is built to support both classical and contemporary chamber music, delivering a full, warm and enveloping sound balanced with excellent vocal and instrumental clarity, achieved through the shaping and materials of surrounding surfaces. The space is acoustically intimate, allowing audiences to feel close to the performers and engaged in the performance.

A key consideration was the acoustic conditions for musicians, essential to a strong performance. The hall provides a positive response to performers, supporting clear mutual hearing across the ensemble, including the conductor. A variable acoustics system allows for a ‘drier’ sound when required, supporting jazz and world music, as well as corporate uses such as meetings and presentations.

The black box is an innovative, experimental space with a controlled, neutral acoustic, including at low frequencies, providing a blank canvas for electroacoustic and spatial audio performance. The recital room offers a flexible acoustic environment where musicians can explore tone, timing and ensemble in preparation for performance.

Using digital acoustic modelling and the Arup SoundLab, an immersive environment for shaping sound, the team tested design options and enabled the university to experience the concert hall acoustics before construction, supporting informed decision-making across different musical uses.

Across all three spaces, silence is critical. Low background noise creates a broad dynamic range for performance. This is achieved by structurally isolating the rooms using acoustic bearings, with each space supported on rubber pads and fully separated from the surrounding structure. This provides high levels of sound insulation, protecting against noise from other building activities and allowing simultaneous use. 

Alexandra Vincent MBE, Managing Director of Schwarzman Centre, University of Oxford, said: “We are thrilled to welcome audiences into the Schwarzman Centre to experience the building alongside students and academics of the University. Our incredible performance spaces will create a stage like no other to present our rich and varied cultural programme, drawing inspiration from the work of our world-leading academics, and welcoming audiences of all ages and backgrounds to the Centre throughout the year.” 

Paul Adams, Associate, Arup: “The opening programme of the Sohmen Concert Hall demonstrates Oxford University’s commitment to delivering high-quality performance facilities. Through close collaboration with university representatives and musicians, the Arup team has helped develop spaces designed to support students, researchers and the wider university community for years to come.”

Find out more about the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities