Working with the RDS and drawing on its close working relationship with the ICO, AWN Consulting Ltd., a Trinity Consultants team, provided design advice in respect of improving the room acoustics within the Concert Hall and providing the ICO with an acoustic environment that met its requirements.

The room acoustic analysis was undertaken using proprietary modelling software (ODEON) with the objective of quantifying the acoustic quality of the space for a variety of different seating and stage layouts. The acoustic model allowed several important room acoustic parameters to be calculated, including reverberation time, intimacy, clarity and envelopment. It was concluded that the Concert Hall in its existing form did not have adequate reverberation for orchestral music and that there were insufficient lateral reflections to both the audience and the stage. In order to improve the room acoustics of the Concert Hall for performances by the ICO several reflective panels were introduced around the room.