Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff

Ice Arena Wales - (Photo Credit: Scott Brownrigg)

A new Extra Care Centre consisting of 39 two bedroom and 8 one bedroom apartments with communal spaces, Mi-Space approached MACH to consult on the 3 storey care home with a view to full ADE compliance, despite tight budgets.

Project Description

MACH Acoustics are regularly approached to carry out detailed internal sound insulation design on residential projects with a view to value engineering, and this care home is no different. Standard acoustic detailing, particularly Robust Details, frequently goes beyond what is required by regulations. MACH Acoustics’ deep knowledge and long experience guarantees risk-free, compliant, cost-saving designs without adversely affecting acoustical quality or architectural intent.

Project Details

Location: Cheltenham
Client: Greenbank Partnerships
Architect: Scott Brownrigg
Contractor: Kier Construction
Contract Value: £16M
Completion Date: March 2016

There were two main areas of design required for this project, the first was to design a cost effective building envelope such to contain the high volumes of noise within the Arena and demonstrate to the local authority that the design meets the planning conditions. This included extensive modelling of the façade and using this data to input into 3D noise mapping software CadnaA. This allowed us to provide a number of solutions which could be analysed on cost. Once a base design was selected we then over saw laboratory tests at SRL in order to validate our modelling of the façade construction. As the tests were being carried out we were able to input the results into our noise map in order to validate but also advise if the construction could be reduced further and advise on the next construction to be tested.

Our Services

  • Value engineering including laboratory testing of the roof and façade design, with respect of noise pollution from high noise levels inside.
  • Detailed design of all M&E elements that ventilated the ice rinks.
  • Reverberation time modelling and PA design services in the two ice rinks / arenas.
Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff

Our work ultimately lead to an approximate saving on the tendered façade design of £400,000.

In addition to the façade, detailed modelling and calculation was required for all of the ventilation, cooling and chilling units required to keep the internal atmosphere cool and the ice pad frozen. These units were particularly noisy and close collaboration with the M&E Engineer and supplier was required, this allowed us to infact select plant equipment that met the criteria instead of using costly mitigation and screening methods.

Extensive modelling was also required to assess the reverberation time within the ice rink, using 3D acoustic modelling software to assess a range of different events and PA systems.  See our blog post on this subject.

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