Museum
Echo forces visitors to talk over each other in front of exhibits
Reversible fixings chosen to protect listed building fabric
Sculptural finishes that complement the exhibits
Phased around opening hours or closed days
Acoustic treatment keeps museums and galleries calm and clear
Good treatment fixes this while protecting the original building. Using reversible, freestanding or minimally-fixed absorption, we bring reverberation down enough that visitors can talk normally in front of the work, with fixings chosen to protect original surfaces.
Big rooms, hard floors and glass display cases are what make a gallery feel grand — and what make it echo. Footsteps and conversation bounce around until visitors start talking over each other just to be heard, competing with the exhibits instead of enjoying them. Add a listed building into the mix, and most obvious fixes are off the table before you even start.
Custom acoustic solutions
Explore the products and finishes we can specify for this space.
How we approach
Museum
We know a gallery has a constraint most spaces don't: the building itself can be as important as what's inside it. For listed and heritage buildings we choose reversible fixing methods, to protect original fabric.
One contractor, start to finish
Survey, design, installation and testing all handled in-house — no subcontractors, no handoffs between suppliers. One team stays accountable for the result, from the first site visit to the final sign-off.
Designed to a target
Every space gets an acoustic design modelled to a specific reverberation target, not a standard panel layout. Before-and-after measurement is available as an option, so the improvement can be proven, not just felt.
Reversible installation for heritage settings
Fixing methods are chosen to be reversible, so listed fabric and original surfaces are protected, and work can be phased around opening hours or closed days so treatment doesn't disrupt visitors.
Independent on materials
We source from several manufacturers and are tied to none, so we specify what your space and budget actually need, not what one catalogue stocks.
From first survey to final finish
One team handles all seven stages, the same way on every project, so you always know what happens next.
A surveyor visits the site, or works from your drawings and photos when a visit isn't practical. Either way, the room, its surfaces and how it is used are recorded before any advice is given.
Reverberation, ambient noise and noise transfer are read against what the space is used for. The findings arrive as a written report with recommendations, yours to keep with no obligation to proceed.
Treatment is modelled against a reverberation target, then drawn up with panel positions, fixings and finishes. Nothing moves forward until you have approved the design.
Every quotation comes with the specification behind it, listing products by type, quantity and finish with costs set out line by line. What is quoted is what the design calls for.
Panels, baffles, ceilings and screens come from our Acoustic Solutions range and are supplied to the approved specification. What arrives on site matches what was designed.
Our own engineers fit to the approved drawings, checking positions and fixings as they go. One team supplies and installs, so nothing is handed between contractors.
Optional: after fit-out the space can be measured again and compared with the original survey, so the improvement is measured rather than assumed. Results are reported against the relevant standards and the written record goes into your building file.
What We Offer
Museum
Need expert acoustic advice?
Our acoustic design service includes detailed CAD drawings with wall elevation renderings, precise product placements, specifications, and verified performance ratings — all provided with every quotation.
We provide remote acoustic proposals using client drawings and photographs. Each proposal includes accurate product recommendations and detailed quotations for supply and installation, saving time without compromising precision.
We provide complimentary NTI RT60 testing to measure reverberation times and assess acoustic performance before and after treatment. This service ensures precise product specification and demonstrates measurable improvements in clarity and comfort.
For projects with complex acoustic requirements, we provide a comprehensive audit package that includes detailed site testing and analysis. This chargeable service is fully credited if we're contracted to deliver the acoustic treatments.
Trusted on schools, venues and landmark halls
How we reduce the noise
For most galleries we specify discreet ceiling absorption and, where the building allows it, sculptural or textured wall panels that add visual interest while bringing reverberation down to a level that protects both conversation and any audio exhibits.
One team surveys, designs and installs — nothing gets lost between contractors
Every install is measured and tested against the target spec before we call it done
Not tied to one manufacturer, so the product is chosen for your space, not our stock
Contact us
Have a question about treating your space? Send us a message and we'll get back to you.
Acoustic treatment FAQs: standards, finishes and installation
Straight answers about treating a space like this, including the standards that apply and how the work is done.
In most cases, yes. Historic England's approach centres on reversibility, so we specify fixing methods that do not damage original fabric and advise on what is achievable for your specific listing. Consent from the local authority may still be needed, so we check early.
Use discreet ceiling absorption and, where the building allows, textured or sculptural panels that complement the space. The aim is to lower reverberation so visitors can talk at normal volume, without treatment competing with what is on display.
Yes. Custom acoustic solutions are engineered for vaulted, domed and period ceilings that standard panels cannot fit. We survey the geometry and design pieces that follow it, using reversible fixings where the fabric is protected.
Yes. Lower ambient reverberation makes quiet audio-visual and interactive exhibits easier to hear, because sound from one display no longer builds up and masks the next. We specify absorption to protect them.
Often, with phasing. We can plan installation around opening hours or closed days, depending on the space and the fixing method, and protect exhibits and visitor routes throughout. Some work near fragile objects may need a closed day.