Intricate architecture and sound standards at Yoorrook Justice Commission
Acoustic projects across Victoria
As a specialist acoustic engineering and vibration firm, Resonate Consultants has experience across a diverse range of sectors. The Justice/Courts sector is one such area whereour expertise comes to the fore.
Image credit: BRM Projects
Given the use and nature of this sector, balancing acoustic outcomes with the intricate architecture of court spaces are paramount to a desirable outcome for the team and end user. Through this, noise levels, privacy, and reverberation time (otherwise referred to as echo) can be managed effectively and, thus, ensure everyday court operations run seamlessly.
This inherent knowledge of court requirements, processes, and architectural intent and processes helped substantially as the Victorian team worked on the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
‘This was a significant project for our firm,’ Jake Werden, Senior Acoustic Consultant, explained. While at the core, a fit out and refurbishment project, the court was designed and built to facilitate the Yoorrook Justice Commission. ‘From a design standpoint, we’re talking about a high-performing courtroom and Magistrate’s Chambers as well as audio-visual hearing rooms,’ he added.
From a community standpoint, the Yoorrook Justice Commission represents a royal commission and the first formal truth-telling process into past and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria. Originated by an agreement between the Victorian government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the importance of this project cannot be overstated.
Resonate Consultants were engaged the successful Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) builder, Rork Projects, as the acoustics advisor to deliver the project from the design phase through to project completion. ‘The fit out comprised approximately 1,600 square metres of back-of-house workspaces and Magistrate’s offices. We also consulted on front-of-house spaces like the courtroom, break-out space and private hearing rooms fully equipped to undertake virtual hearings,’ Jake said.
Working directly with the builder on this project meant that buildability was at the forefront of the design from the early stages through to completion. Providing the foundation for greater real-time collaboration, Resonate Consultants were able to foster a coordinated outcome where everything from site conditions to installation processes were considered. ‘When you are engaged by the builder, you don’t have usual consultant timelines, so the outcome was a much quicker turnaround infused with a really pragmatic approach,’ Jake explained.
With acoustic intent vitally important in projects involving court systems, our team employed client-centric services to overcome obstacles and challenges. For example, from an acoustic point of view, the junctions at the façade and the mullion should be as thick and heavy as possible when designing for high levels of acoustic privacy. However, a site visit showed this section to be relatively challenging to incorporate our ideal acoustic approach around façade junctions. ‘We coordinated with the builder and the subcontractors around how to fill the ensuing void. Normally, you would agree on one solution with the architect and once the builder is involved that solution would change drastically, resulting in multiple hours of meetings/shop drawing reviews, and in some cases a compromised outcome. In this scenario, because we had access to the builder and subcontractor building the solution, we were able to find a desirable solution within 30minutes onsite together,’ Jake said.
Another challenge that arose during the course of construction was the design calling for perforated plasterboard.
Image credit: BRM Projects
Without a ceiling as a protection layer for noise and noise transfer, elements of privacy can be compromised. Additionally, we only had ceiling space to rely on for reverberation (echo) treatment, so we required a level of openness. With an ability to manage architectural intent and acoustic outcome with buildability, ‘we combined as a team to consider each disciplines requirements. We wanted to ensure we were still achieving a certain outcome without being counterintuitive to other services on the project. The outcome included a portion of the ceiling remaining open, with some sections remaining solid to maximise the performance across all building acoustic recommendations and maintaining the aesthetic intent’ Jake noted.
Having been involved with the Yoorrook Justice Commission since the beginning of the project, Resonate Consultants displayed our commitment to being client-focused and collaborative during each stage of the build. From design development and tender documentation and delivery to actual construction, the team entered into a strategic feedback loop where transparent and honest communication was employed.
Communication and understanding were enhanced by emphasising being onsite to have real discussions and see the build unfold in person. So, whether dealing with the perforated plasterboard, the façade and mullion junction, or even issues surrounding return air, ‘we could express if things weren’t going the way they should and outline what the repercussions might be without holding the process up,’ Jake said.
While an important project in terms of adding to our expertise in this operating area, there was also something more important to consider. Namely, the fact that this was a meaningful and significant project.
At Resonate Consultants, our undertakings are guided by our core values. So, for Jake and the team, working on the Yoorrook Justice Commission allowed us to demonstrate our values-driven approach and our commitment to being responsible. All of which will also guide upcoming project work in this sector, ranging from the Wyndham Law Courts to the Melbourne Children’s Court.
