Acoustics Engineer Summer Placement London 2024

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. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Acoustics team in our new London office for an 8 week summer placement.

What is Acoustic Engineering?

Outcome focused design

‘Reverse engineering’ from the people-centric results our clients want from their buildings, 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 of this is our work with the prestige gym chain Equinox which often retrofit their 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 specific activities proposed. Another example was the new Faculty of Arts building at Warwick University, where a significant part of our role was simply 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 challenging, complex and difficult. 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).

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 to deliver a third-party review of the innovative audio technology that was being developed specially for the venue and to analyse the architectural acoustics and where possible minimise the need for structural acoustic insulation.

The principal acoustic challenges came as a consequence of 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.

Co-op Arena, Manchester, 2017 - ongoing

Co-op Live will be the UK’s biggest indoor arena, able to offer a warm Manchester welcome to over 23,000 people. Vanguardia (a Buro Happold Company) have provided the acoustic and audio-visual design since the onset. This is an exciting project nearing competition in 2023, where Vanguardia are due to carry out commissioning and optimisation of the venue.

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, Led Zeppelin through to modern megastars such as Amy Winehouse and Ed Sheeran. Buro Happold are the acoustic engineers overseeing the build and the transition into this new world-class home.

What would I do?

• Undertake detailed engineering design
• Prepare technical schedules
• 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
• Ensure service and project work are carried out within agreed deadlines and within budget
• Ensure that appropriate service/design decisions are met
• Ensure senior staff are kept informed of important and relevant service/design decisions and the objectives of the company and the client are achieved
• 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 value and learn what sets us apart from other organisations. Exposure to a wide range of portfolios, including local community led projects and global large-scale 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 a range of specialist engineers and designers both within Buro Happold and our collaborators.

Application process

The recruitment timeline can vary depending on the role and team you are applying to. Successful applications are progressed to interview stage within 2-3 months from the closing date of the advert. We will endeavour to keep you informed throughout the time that your application is being considered, however, due to the volume of applications received and the size of our team, we are not able to respond to individual requests for status updates.

This is a paid role for current university students for an 8-week placement taking place during Summer 2024. Exact dates can be flexible depending on candidate and team availability.

The annual salary for this placement will be £25,643 in our London office, in-line with the UK Real Living Wage.

If you are experiencing problems with your application submission, please contact earlycareers@burohappold.com.