Our Story
In 2019 Sandy Brown celebrated 50 years of providing acoustics advice to the building industry.
Founded in 1969 by renowned jazz clarinettist, architect and acoustician Sandy Brown and fellow architect David Binns, the consultancy originally provided specialist architecture and acoustic design services. Over the years it has been instrumental in the development of building acoustics, becoming one of the world’s most experienced acoustic consultancies and the largest independent one in the UK.
Today, Sandy Brown continues to build on knowledge and practical experience to bring about imaginative design solutions, and looks forward to continued success over the next 50 years.
View the whole Sandy Brown journey below or jump straight to a decade of interest:
1960-69
1969
Sandy Brown Associates formed & opening of the first London office
Jazz clarinetist, band leader, writer and BBC chief acoustic architect Sandy Brown forms the first commercial acoustic partnership in the UK with fellow architect David Binns, providing architectural services and theatre consulting as well.
Trident Studios
Sandy and David's first project is the legendary recording studio in Soho, which boasted four top ten singles within nine months of opening and established itself as one of the top studios in the world within ten years.
1970-79
1971
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s primary concert hall. Sandy Brown’s work has continued over 30 years.
1973
Radio Forth, Edinburgh
The first of the IBA franchised local radio stations, Sandy Brown went on to complete a further 13 stations for them.
Association of Noise Consultants formed
Sandy Brown Associates is a founding member.
1974
The Institute of Acoustics is formed
Sandy Brown Associates becomes a sponsor member.
Edinburgh office opens
In South Queensferry on the banks of the Forth estuary.
1975
Sandy Brown passes away
Aged just 46, dies of a heart attack at his home while watching rugby. Co-founder David Binns continues the company in Sandy's name and honour.
1980-89
1980
BBC New Broadcasting House, Manchester
The BBC's regional headquarters in Manchester including Studio 7, its classical music and public performance studio.
The Hallé Orchestra, BMG Classic Records and Decca Records were among this specialised studio's regular users.
1983
St David's Hall, Cardiff
World class concert hall, rated in the world's top 10 by Leo Beranek in his book Concert Halls and Opera Houses: Music, Acoustics, and Architecture.
1986
Lloyd's of London
This iconic Richard Rogers designed office building in the heart of the City of London's financial district. A 1/8th scale model was built of the atrium.
1990-99
1994
Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Revitalisation of the existing Grade B listed auditorium of the Empire Theatre, maintaining its basic virtues of size and acoustic performance, but increasing the stage area (now one of the largest in the UK), pit and facilities to accommodate larger performances. One of the world's leading auditoria for opera, ballet and other musical events.
1997
Waterfront Hall, Belfast
The main auditorium seats over 2000 but transforms into an arena by moving the stalls seating. Designed primarily to provide excellent orchestra music acoustics with variable acoustics also incorporated for staged performances, conferences and pop concerts.
Canary Wharf
Acoustic consultants to Canary Wharf since 1997 advising on a wide range of buildings including commercial offices, retail and more recently off-site mixed use residential led schemes including Southbank Place and Wood Wharf.
1990
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
The concert hall seats 2,500 in an arena format, the stage is fully adjustable with mechanical lifts to accommodate a variety of orchestra and performance.
1992
AIR Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, Hampstead
Beatles producer George Martin's studios were converted from a Grade II listed church and missionary school designed by Alfred Waterhouse. The complex comprises world class recording and post-production facilities for film scoring, orchestras, rock and pop.
ITN HQ, London
The new headquarters building for Independent Television News' UK and international news operation in Gray's Inn Road, contains four studios.
1995
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
First ‘turnable’ auditorium in the UK.
2000-09
2004
The Scottish Parliament
Stirling Prize winning assembly buildings with debating chamber, press facilities, public galleries, committee rooms, libraries, restaurant facilities and bars.
The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Axe
Iconic Stirling Prize winning high-rise office building in the City of London for Swiss Re.
2006
Manchester office opens
Sandy Brown opens our first office in the North-West.
2000
The Lowry, Salford
Two theatres and studio space for performing arts, presenting a full range of drama, opera, ballet, dance, musicals, circus, children's shows, popular music, jazz, folk and comedy.
2007
Manchester Civil Justice Centre
The largest project of its type since the Royal Courts of Justice were built in London in 1870, mixed mode ventilation strategy.
2009
Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
Stunning roof enclosure over internal courtyard of listed Old Patent Office Building housing the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum.
2010-19
2011
Media City UK
For the BBC's relocation to Manchester, we were appointed for the studio block and went on to advise on several other projects on the campus including the BBC Orchestra's rehearsal and recording broadcast space.
Evelyn Grace Academy
Stirling Prize winning school by Zaha Hadid.
2016
YouTube Space, London
Studio and collaboration space for YouTube creators.
New Adelphi, University of Salford
Accommodation for the Schools of Art, Performance and Music. It contains professional standard recording studios, TV studio, radio studios, music tutorial/rehearsal rooms, drama & dance performance spaces and a 400 seat black box theatre.
2012
London 2012
Sandy Brown provided full service design and testing for the Athletes' Village, advised on the temporary basketball arena and peer reviewed the acoustics for several other venues.
2015
Birmingham office opens
Located in St Paul’s Jewellery Quarter.
2017
Bloomberg HQ, London
European headquarters in the City of London including acoustics design, modeling and mock-up testing for external natural ventilation, office acoustics, state-of-the-art conferencing systems, auditorium, television studios and social media studios. Winner of the Stirling Prize.
Dubai Opera
The 2,000 seat, multi-purpose theatre features variable acoustics and layouts that make it suitable for opera, musicals, ballet, dance and drama productions as well as conferences.
Royal Albert Hall
Acoustic consultants to the Royal Albert Hall including replacement of auditorium sound system and acoustic enhancements.