Auditorium Design
Professional Profiles
Amadeus' acoustic consultants draw on many years of experience to give you the benefit of our knowledge.
Adrian James, Acoustician - BSc, ARCS, CPhys, FIOA
Adrian James graduated from Imperial College, London in 1984 with an Honours degree in Physics. He then spent two years in contract research into fluid flow dynamics and active noise control, and a further eight years gaining consultancy experience in large acoustics consultancies in London. In that time he was responsible for acoustic aspects of over 150 projects including BBC White City, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, and several concert halls and theatres in England, Ireland and Hong Kong. He also led acoustic studies for the refurbishments of the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Royal Opera House in London.
In 1994 he established Adrian James Acoustics, an independent consultancy specialising in the acoustic design of buildings for the performing arts and education. The practice has since expanded into other areas of acoustics and noise control, and has undertaken more than a thousand commissions of all sizes in the UK, mainland Europe and the Middle East. He was a principal author of the DfES Building Bulletin 93 "Acoustics of Schools" and continues to advise government departments and several county councils on the acoustics of buildings for education.
Adrian has chaired a number of technical committees and working groups on acoustic measurements, and has published and presented papers in English and French on a wide range of acoustic subjects. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics and a past Chairman of the Association of Noise Consultants.
Andy Thompson, Audio Engineer - BMus(Hons) Tonmeister MIOA
An electronic engineer and musician, Andy Thompson qualified from the University of Surrey with the Tonmeister degree in music and sound recording. He then spent three years at the University's Institute of Sound Recording, where he was responsible for designing, installing and maintaining recording studios and equipment. Andy holds the Institute of Acoustics Diploma, being commended for achieving Merits in five separate subjects.
In 2002 Andy joined Adrian James Acoustics where he specialises in acoustics of performance and education buildings, studio design and music technology systems. He has led the acoustic designs for a wide range of projects, including major refurbishment works at the Bishopsgate Institute, new performing arts centres at Hampton School and Gresham's School, and computer modelling of Victoria Station Underground.
Andy was one of the first accredited acoustics testers under the ANC registration scheme, and is an Inspector for the Robust Details sound insulation scheme. He is a member of the Institute of Acoustics and the Audio Engineering Society
Ian Rees, Electroacoustic Designer - BSc(Hons) MIOA ASTC
Ian Rees qualified in Software Systems for the Arts and Media at the University of Hertfordshire in 1999 and found his way, after a stint as a Model Designer at Legoland Windsor, to the Orpheus Centre in Godstone, Surrey. He worked there for four years as a Music Technologist, running the theatre and recording studios and providing technical support for performances at a variety of venues including the Royal Opera House, Hampton Court, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Glastonbury festival.
In 2004, Ian studied for the Institute of Acoustics Diploma at NESCOT and won the IOA Diploma Prize. He joined Adrian James Acoustics in March 2005, where he specialises in computer modelling, sound system design, auralisation and visualisation of performance spaces. Recent and current projects include the new RLPO Rehearsal Centre, the Cornerstone Performing Arts Centre at Liverpool Hope University, the refurbishment of a listed building for Norwich University College of the Arts, the Open youth venue in Norwich, and Liverpool Hope University’s new Education and Enterprise Building.
Ian is a member of the Institute of Acoustics and an associate member of the Society of Theatre Consultants.
Joe Bear, Acoustician - BEng(Hons) MIOA
Joe Bear studied at the ISVR in the University of Southampton, graduating with a degree in Acoustical Engineering in 2001. His studies covered the spectrum of acoustics including computer modelling, analytical acoustics, audio systems and electro-acoustics. He specialised in signal processing and psycho-acoustics as part of his research project into auralisation techniques. After graduating he joined Bureau Veritas working as an RF emissions inspector in their Telecoms group. He also spent time working with the Bureau Veritas Noise and Vibration team on environmental noise, domestic sound insulation and hearing loss research.
Joe joined Adrian James Acoustics as a full-time acoustics consultant in 2006, where he works in architectural acoustics, computer modelling and noise monitoring. He is a member of the Institute of Acoustics and is accredited under the ANC registration scheme to take sound insulation tests in accordance with Approved Document E. He is currently working on a number of designs for schools and performing arts buildings, including Drumbeat ASD school, Shoreditch Town Hall and a new llibrary building for the University of East London’s Stratford campus.
Andy Oldridge, Acoustician - MEng(Hons) MIOA
Andrew Oldridge studied at the University of York, graduating with a Master's degree in Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems. As well as core engineering principles and electronic engineering modules his studies included acoustics and psychoacoustics, recording studio techniques, noise and signal processing. He specialised in pyschoacoustics, contributing to ongoing research at the university by submitting a final year dissertation with an investigation into spatial cues and anthropometry. Upon graduating he was awarded the admission tutor’s prize for outstanding performance at MEng level.
He joined AJA as a full-time acoustics consultant in 2008, working in architectural acoustics, environmental acoustics, computer modelling of auditoria and sound insulation design and measurement. While doing all of this he also studied for the Institute of Acoustics Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control and was commended for achieving Merits in all subjects. He is a member of the Institute of Acoustics and is accredited under the ANC registration scheme to take sound insulation tests in accordance with Approved Document E. Andrew has recently been working on a number of designs for schools and auditoria for the performing arts, and on the design and testing of sound insulation in domestic and commercial premises.
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