Project to make green energy quieter in Manchester school leads to award success

The new acoustics building isn’t even open and it’s already an award winner. The University and partners have won the Quiet Mark Built Environment Award 2026, for the exemplary acoustic design being embedded from the start into the University’s new acoustics laboratories.
The facility will include vibration-isolating foundations, extra-dense concrete walls, and floating floors mounted on acoustic bearings to minimise the transmission of external noise and vibration.

Specialist anechoic chambers and a Building Environment Testing Suite, being built as part of the Crescent Innovation Zone, will create controlled environments for industry partnerships and research into a healthier sounding planet. The Built Environment Award recognises the winners’ shared commitment to a building that will advance acoustic excellence across sectors from perception to construction.

And the University was Highly Commended for the John Connell Innovation Award, for our work to diagnose and reduce air source heat pump noise. Working with Parrs Wood High School and the Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) UK, the team combined methods including real-world acoustic measurements, predictive modelling and psychoacoustic analysis to identify noise impacts and assess practical mitigation options.

The team’s work identified alternative locations for two heat pumps which were predicted to reduce noise levels at classroom façades by up to 24 decibels. By translating high level acoustic research into practical solutions, the team is helping ensure the transition to low-carbon heating can progress alongside quieter learning and living environments. The team involved was Professor Antonio Torija Martinez, Jon Hargreaves, Simone Graetzer, Volkan Acun, Lucy Barton and Katie Salter.

Claire Lomax, Director of Acoustic Laboratories at the University of Salford, said: “Congratulations to everyone on these amazing awards. The work with Parrs Wood High School exemplifies our mission to make the world sound better and has resulted in real impact. And as our new acoustics building takes shape it’s really exciting to see our efforts recognised as we develop this world leading facility that will ensure Salford Acoustics continues to lead the way.”