University of Salford sounds out council for acoustics centre

Plans for a 14,500 sq ft facility at the Peel Park campus commensurate with the university’s reputation as a market leader in the field have been submitted.

In November, Salford City Council agreed to sell a plot of land off Wynne Street to the university to pave the way for the facility, dubbed the National Institute of Airborne Acoustic Metrology.

The building will see the University of Salford’s acoustics department relocate from the Newton Building to the purpose-built facility. Designed by Sheppard Robson, the scheme will feature flexible acoustic teaching, lab, and research facilities such as anechoic chambers for academic, commercial, and research use.

Director of acoustics at the University of Salford, Professor Trevor Cox said: “Sound is integral to life, and so the work we’ll do in this building will impact the public.

“To take one example, we might be working with industry and government to reduce the harms to health that noise creates. The new laboratories will help us to forge a better sounding future.”

Architecturally, the facility is split into two distinct sections, a brick plinth and a metal-clad box that sits on top.

The site forms part of the Collision Zone within phase one of the 250-acre Crescent masterplan, which is being led by ECF.

Max Bentham, development director at ECF, said: “The regeneration of this currently underutilised area will help to enhance Salford’s global reputation for industry and innovation.

Not only will students and employees at the University of Salford benefit from this state-of-the-art facility, but so too will the surrounding community and wider region as the area attracts businesses and investment.”

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, described the submission of plans as a “fantastic step forward” for the university.

“It is great to see such positive development momentum across Crescent Innovation, following the completion of the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre and work which is now on the ground to deliver Salford Rise, a new green elevated walkway to enhance connectivity between Crescent Innovation and surrounding communities.

“These developments are key to driving innovation, boosting our local economy, and shaping a greener, more prosperous Salford.”

To learn more about the scheme, search for reference number NOT/2024/1885 on Salford City Council’s planning portal.

The project team comprises CBRE on planning, Planit advising on landscapes, and Morgan Sindall Construction as main contractor. Morgan Sindall also delivered the North of England Robotics and Innovation Centre on a neighbouring site.

Steven Gregory, Morgan Sindall Construction’s area director for the North West said: “Over recent years it has been our privilege to deliver several world-class new facilities for the staff and students at this brilliant university, and we are thrilled to be renewing our relationship on this brilliant new project.

“Through its investment in its campus, the university has demonstrated that it is focussed on using the technologies of tomorrow to help improve the world around us – an ethos fully shared by Morgan Sindall. We’re very proud to support them on their journey.”

Gleeds, Renaissance, BDP, Buro Happold, and Orsa are also attached to the project.