Penicuik Town Hall

Acoustic Design and Testing – Penicuik Town Hall

Client: Midlothian Council

Architects: Smith Scott Mullan Architects

Project Team: Russell Macdonald

Awards:

Edinburgh Architectural Association Awards 2022 – Regeneration / Conservation Award (Shortlisted)

Penicuik Town Hall, a prominent building in the heart of Penicuik, was built in 1883 as indicated by the date stone on the front elevation and was originally known as the Cowan Institute. The building is a three and four-storey red sandstone building situated on the south side of the High Street of traditional construction with loadbearing masonry walls and a timber roof structure.

The project scope included repair and enhancement to conserve the external envelope, and M&E installations to improve the energy efficiency of the building.

The project was part of the Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project, a Townscape Heritage and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, jointly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Midlothian Council, and supported by Penicuik Community Development Trust and Penicuik and District Community Council.

The town hall has been returned to its former glory, preserving an important piece of the history of Penicuik and maintaining a key local space for community use.

Smith Scott Mullan Architects on behalf of Midlothian Council commissioned RMP to provide acoustic design advice for the refurbishment of Penicuik Town Hall.

The Town Hall has two main halls that share a separating floor: the Lesser Hall on the Ground Floor, and the Cowan Hall on the First Floor. The proposals included for the remodelling of the Lesser Hall to provide an entrance Foyer and Café, with a new Lesser Hall formed in the basement.

RMP undertook a full acoustic design review including sound insulation testing, reverberation testing and provision of recommendations on upgrades to the ceilings, walls and floors as well as noise management controls.  We also provided recommendations on incorporating high performance acoustic absorption panels.