Lafayette is a brand new 600 capacity live music venue located in an office building in King’s Cross. There was concern from the Landlord that daytime sound-checks and evening gigs could impact the rest of the building which as well as typical office floors, also included a number of recording studios and editing suites for Universal Music Group.
The Landlord’s Consultant, Hoare Lea Acoustics carried out benchmark testing and set out a series of proof of concept construction solutions. RBA were then brought on board by The Venue Group to work with their team to integrate this new venue into the existing basement space developing the outline design into a detailed, technical design package.
The main project focus was the Live Venue but the whole facility (Goods Way) is set over multiple levels and includes a busy Food Hall, Nightclub style public bar, Private Members Bar and large green room facilities all of which had to be isolated from one another as well as the sensitive spaces above.
There was an aspiration for Lafayette to operate at effectively unrestricted noise levels meaning we had to undertake detailed analysis of the level of insulation required, the noise level distribution and control of flanking paths.
RBA provided a range of services including licensing, sound insulation design, acoustic reviews of mechanical and structural designs, internal room acoustic design through to commissioning testing. Extensive modelling was required to optimise the design to minimise construction depths whilst maintaining acoustic performance.
Throughout the process we had to liaise closely with the Landlord Acoustic Consultants to demonstrate that our predicted performances would be realised in the final venue.
After many months of site visits, we successfully commissioned the venue and Lafayette opened to the public in March 2020.
RBA won the 2020 ANC Award for their work on Lafayette in the Building Acoustics category.
Further details and a link to the Award presentation videos can be found here: