Scottish Opera’s new Silver Cloud Studio is a 5,000 square foot orchestral rehearsal space at Hillingdon Park near Glasgow.

Max Fordham provided M&E and Acoustics services to help transform the cold, reverberant industrial unit into a world-class rehearsal studio with high-end acoustics and good environmental conditions for performers.

The unit suffered from rain noise on its metal roof and noise break-in from adjacent units and traffic, so the first step for the acoustic design was to create a quiet space.

The entrance from the car-park was lobbied to control traffic noise, and an independent lining was added to one wall to control industrial process noise from adjacent units. A suspended ceiling was added to control rain noise, the design of which was crucial for a number of discrete functions. We used a readily available and inexpensive grid system, but devised a layout that interspersed three types of tile in order to admit daylight to the space, control the level of acoustic reverberation, and provide diffuse overhead reflections essential for ensemble playing.

“The acoustics are excellent and allow all the different sections of the orchestra to hear each other with great clarity and yet still retain a positive bloom to the sound. Already I am seeing better results from the orchestra which can be directly attributed to the new space” – Stuart Stratford, Music Director.

The M&E systems are silent during rehearsals and very responsive to the high, but intermittent, occupancies. The heating was designed to heat the building from cold to full temperature in less than two hours.

As well as the main rehearsal space, Max Fordham played a lead role in the developing the arrangement of the ancillary accommodation and the overall look and feel of the building. 

The project was delivered against a challenging programme - three months from concept to completion. This was achieved through close collaboration with the Scottish Opera Music Director, the technical team and the director, Alex Reedijk.

 

"The level and quality of advice, the thorough design development, the professional and timeous commitment on site and their integrity combined with cheerfulness, are some of the features that distinguish Max Fordham. What’s not to like?" - Alex Reedijk, General Director at Scottish Opera.