Polden Bower School, Bridgwater

The ISS Acoustic team recently completed an exciting project at Polden Bower School in Bridgwater, where we addressed the issue of excessive echo in the school's sports hall. The echo had been causing communication challenges during activities and events, making it difficult to use the space for multi-purpose functions.

To solve this, our team expertly installed over 50 sound-absorbing acoustic panels, including suspended acoustic rafts, which were carefully integrated into the hall’s existing wood panel design for a seamless look. These bespoke acoustic solutions significantly reduced reverberation, enhancing both sound quality and speech clarity.

In a large, open space like a sports hall, sound waves reflect off hard surfaces such as walls, floors, and ceilings. This creates reverberation, or the persistence of sound long after it’s been produced, leading to excessive echo. This can make it difficult to hear speech clearly or manage noise levels.

The acoustic panels we installed at Polden Bower School work by absorbing these sound waves. Made from materials designed to trap and dampen sound energy, the panels stop the waves from bouncing back into the room. Diffusers also play a role by scattering sound energy in different directions, helping to break up direct reflections. This process not only reduces echo but also creates a more balanced and pleasant acoustic environment.

By reducing the amount of reflected sound, these panels make the space acoustically manageable. Speech becomes clearer, and noise levels are controlled, making it an ideal environment for meetings, events, and third-party rentals.

Thanks to these improvements, the sports hall is now a versatile, multi-use space that can be rented out for events, meetings, and other activities, all with a better acoustic environment.

Whether you're a developer, main contractor, architect, or private client, we'd love to collaborate on your next project. At ISS, we operate nationwide, offering acoustic solutions and commercial fit-outs that meet the highest standards. With our in-house team of skilled specialists, we ensure every aspect of the project is handled with precision, from design and manufacturing to installation.

Our project at Polden Bower School was a perfect showcase of how acoustic panels can effectively eliminate one of the worst cases of reverberation in a large space filled with hard surfaces.

Client: Polden Bower School

Sector: Music, Arts & Education