413-421 George Street

Sydney, NSW



Services to client
Acoustics and Vibration Control


Primary expertise

  • Building Acoustics
  • Vibration Isolation Design

This $50 million, 17,500 m2, project involved the redevelopment of the former Nock & Kirby Building, located at 413-421 George Street, Sydney, into 12 levels of A Grade Commercial space, two levels of retail tenancy and basement level car parking. The building is located over the railway tunnels between Central Station and Town Hall, therefore reduction of structural vibration and regenerated noise was a key design issue.

Bassett Acoustics has several key roles in the project:
Architectural Acoustics
Bassett Acoustics provided advice on architectural requirements for the retail and commercial aspects of this project including:
  • Speech privacy between spaces such as offices
  • Impact noise control eg footfall noise transmission into surrounding areas
  • Internal acoustics for open atrium including reverberation control
  • External noise intrusion (eg traffic, aircraft, rail, etc)
  • Rain noise assessment and mitigation

Building Services Acoustics
Bassett Acoustics provided advice to architects and building services consultants on noise related to their specific disciplines. Areas of application for mechanical services acoustics include:
  • In-duct (supply and return air) noise transmission and casing radiated noise from air handling units.
  • Noise control from plantrooms, roof mounted plant, other mechanical plant,  hydraulic services
  • Structure borne noise transmission
  • Review of mechanical consultant’s design
  • Noise control recommendations
  • Environmental noise assessment for air conditioning plant

Vibration Isolation
Bassett Acoustics carried out vibration analysis for this project.  The following services were provided:
  • Selection of appropriate vibration design criteria
  • Vibration and regenerated noise measurements and monitoring
  • Vibration isolation selection and analysis of isolation efficiency