Arup delivers facade and acoustic engineering for Oxford University’s new cultural campus

Arup, in collaboration with Hopkins Architects, developed the facade strategy for the building and the acoustic design of a 500 seat concert hall.

The facade combines traditional brick and stone with modern off-site prefabrication using precast concrete panels, minimising joints to create a cohesive appearance. Aluminium-framed glazing was incorporated into the design, and thermal analysis supported insulation and airtightness requirements, contributing to the building targeting Passivhaus certification by the end of the year.

Arup’s acoustic team worked closely with university representatives and musicians to develop the acoustic brief and design for the concert hall, black box, and rehearsal room. Every potential noise-generating element in the concert hall from the ventilation to the lighting was scrutinised, including laboratory testing, to achieve a silent canvas for the performances.

Using digital acoustic modelling and the Arup SoundLab - an immersive environment for exploring and shaping sound – the acoustic team tested design possibilities, enabling the university team to experience the acoustic of the concert hall prior to construction and providing flexibility in design for different musical styles.

The campus Great Hall is enclosed by a timber-lined internal dome, protected by an external glass and steel structure, with the glazing system developed by Hopkins Architects and Arup.

Tateo Nakajima, Arup Fellow, states: "We're proud to have contributed our integrated design and planning expertise to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre at Oxford University. Throughout this project, we sought to combine technical excellence, a sensitivity to context and heritage, and a strong focus on human experience and social impact.

"We've brought our unique perspective to the concert hall and studio spaces which were crafted with the Oxford community in mind, reflecting the opportunity for such spaces to create a truly meaningful place of conversation and communication between artists and audiences for generations to come."