Summer Placement - Acoustics Engineer
From helping shape entire cities to adapting infrastructure to deal with the climate emergency, a career at Buro Happold presents the chance to make a difference. With a world-class reputation, our creativity and people have delivered positive change to clients, the environment, and communities. If you want to be part of something bigger, this is your chance.
What is Acoustic Engineering?
Outcome focused design:
'Reverse engineering' is based on the people-centric results our clients want from their buildings, and we develop and use the most advanced computational tools to inform our designs. Good examples include the AVIVA Studios, Manchester, where we created a mathematical prediction of the response to mounting the building façade on bearings to contain music noise, or at a well-known web giant's European HQ in central London where we used novel modelling techniques to predict how much colleagues would be distracted by each other's noise in an open plan office.
Communication:
But it's not about the tools – our focus is on being able to communicate the results to our clients across key technical areas such as noise break-in, internal sound transmission, reverberation control, building services noise, structural dynamics, audio-visual design, public address and voice alarm, and vibration. A key focus is engagement. An example is our work with the prestige gym chain Equinox, which often retrofits its facilities inside existing listed buildings.
Our relationship allows us to understand the unique aspirations of each site and tailor a dynamic, vibration isolation and sound insulation solution to each development based on the proposed activities. Another example was the new Faculty of Arts building at Warwick University, where a significant part of our role was to listen to the requirements of the different faculties and translate these into the language of engineering solutions.
Challenge:
We're excited and motivated by the challenges, complexes, and difficulties. Our team loves applying industry-leading innovation on the hardest challenges, from the ultra-high-tech (such as the award-winning Dyson campus and Imperial College Michael Uren buildings) to the curiously unusual (such as the one-of-a-kind architectural form of the Museum of the Future).
See our Acoustics discipline page here.
What sort of projects would I work on?
Recent and current projects:
The Sphere, Las Vegas, 2019 - 2023
The world's largest and latest immersive experience. Our team of acoustic and audio technology experts from Vanguardia (a Buro Happold Company) has worked on the project since 2019. Our team was engaged in delivering a third-party review of the innovative audio technology being developed, especially for the venue, and analysing the architectural acoustics to minimise the need for structural acoustic insulation, where possible.
The principal acoustic challenges resulted from the venue's striking spherical shape. A sphere would naturally cause an almost infinite number of acoustic reflections, making soundwaves very difficult to control within the space.
Google KGX1, London, 2019 – ongoing
Google's new London headquarters building/King's Cross Campus development KGX1 site sits between King's Cross Station and the King's Boulevard. The purpose-built 11-storey building comprises more than 90,000 m2 of space. The building, designed by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) will feature a natural theme where all materials are sourced through Google's healthy materials programme.
Buro Happold Acoustics are front and centre of the acoustic fit-out design by investigating how to design different acoustic landscapes appropriate for the activities performed in each area.
BBC Concert Studios, London, 2017 – ongoing
The new home for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the world-famous BBC Maida Vale recording studios, this development will provide rehearsal, recording and performance space for some of the world's most famous and well-known artists. Maida Vale studios are historically renowned for recording and broadcasting sessions from legendary acts such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin to modern megastars such as Amy Winehouse and Ed Sheeran. Buro Happold is the acoustic engineer overseeing the build and the transition into this new world-class home.
What would I do?
You'll be exposed to the following acoustic design aspects:
- Sound system design
- Sound insulation design
- Acoustic surveys, benchmarking and commissioning
- Room acoustics design and reverberation control
- Venue, performance space and concert hall design
- Structural vibration isolation and dynamics
- Control of external noise break-in and façade & ventilation design
- Audio visual design
- Design and assessment of internal and external building services noise and vibration
- Public address and voice alarm design
What type of activities will be involved in?
- Gain exposure on how to undertake detailed engineering design.
- Support the team in preparing technical schedules.
- Gain experience on how to plan and manage CAD documentation of design work.
- Under guidance of senior staff, represent Buro Happold at meetings with the client, other professionals and suppliers.
- Achieve a real understanding of what it is like to work in an engineering consultancy.
About you:
Currently studying towards a degree in one of the following subjects:
- Acoustics
- Acoustical Engineering
- Sound and Vibration studies
- Engineering Acoustics
- Architecture
- Mechanical Engineering
- Music Technology
- Audio & Broadcast Engineering
- Physics
- Sound Engineering
What's in it for you?
Broad insight within a team, mentored by a subject matter expert. The opportunity to experience our culture and values and learn what sets us apart from other organisations. Exposure to a wide range of portfolios, including local community-led projects and large-scale global clients. The diversity of the projects we work on is one of the many reasons Engineers love to work at Buro Happold.
A plethora of interesting and challenging projects to stretch your professional skills, a friendly and close-knit team, flexible working and a competitive reward package. The opportunity to work on multidisciplinary projects aside from a range of specialist engineers and designers both within Buro Happold and our collaborators.
Application Process
Please see our Early Careers Candidate Pack for further guidance and information.
This is a paid role for current students for an 8-week placement taking place during Summer 2025.
If you are experiencing problems with your application submission, please contact earlycareers@burohappold.com.
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions. Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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