Welcome back to our acoustic consultants interview series. Today we’re interviewing Amanda Robinson who joins us from her new consultancy the Acoustic Design Collective in Scotland.
Amanda brings over 20 years of global expertise in acoustic strategies to create world-class sound environments. She is accredited as a Professional Engineer by Professional Engineers Ontario and a Chartered Engineer by the Institute of Acoustics, with an established background in architecture and building acoustics. Previously, Amanda served as Vice President of Architecture at Aercoustics Engineering Limited and Co-CEO of Marshall Day Acoustics, overseeing international operations and multidisciplinary teams. Dedicated to delivering tailored acoustic solutions, with a focus on client collaboration and technical mastery.
What’s the best part of being an acoustic consultant?
It’s never dull. I have loved the variety of the job ever since I started – whether it was going to site, or being a pivotal part of a project design, it has never been boring. I have also met the most wonderful people and friends from all over the world. The other part that has been really cool to see is the evolution of acoustic design. When I started everything was hand drawn, and printed with ammonia printers. Now, we can do a design and send an auralisation to a client, and make real time edits, all in the space of a day!
What’s the craziest situation you’ve faced onsite?
Well, what goes on onsite, stays onsite! Although we did manage to get a hire vehicle bogged one time on an environmental noise survey, and ended up walking back around 3km to the control centre to get rescued. Luckily our company had a policy of night surveys being done in pairs.
Which job are you most proud of and why?
That’s a really difficult question, because I am very fortunate to have been involved in some amazing projects! If I had to narrow it down (I cannot pick just one) I would say ABC Studios in Melbourne, delivered with Cox and Peter Brown – that one I was worried I would miss out on because we finished documentation when I went on maternity leave, but timing worked out perfectly and I got to see the project through construction, and take my son to the opening event. My other all time favourites were Monash University Learning and Teaching Building (because I really enjoyed working with the team at Wardles), and State Theatre Centre in Perth, which was one of the most challenging projects I have worked on – stacked theatres built next to a rail line yet to be built! That was also a fabulous project to work alongside Kerry Hill Architects.
What advice would you give to aspiring acoustic consultants?
My greatest desire is to see a world class concert hall designed by a woman! So I’m putting that challenge out there now. I think all too often women are much harsher critics on themselves than anyone else – it’s one of the reasons that I have started up my own consulting practice – Acoustic Design Collective (acousticdesigncollective.com). I am backing myself to do what I love – and that is acoustic design (mostly of buildings, but I don’t mind the odd foray into environmental acoustics from time to time).
Acoustics is still a relatively young field – it’s only been around 120 years since William Sabine came up with his theory and discoveries on absorption, and modern architectural acoustics was born. Whilst the laws of physics won’t change, I think that the way we approach projects will change – it’s exciting!
If you could take anyone (not family) living or deceased on a yearlong road trip, who would it be and why?
If I couldn’t take family (including the dog, who would be up there at the top of the list), I would take Sir David Attenborough, just so that I could have him teach me about all the creatures we would see.
Thanks for sharing, Amanda. If you missed our earlier interview with Geoff Harris, you can find it here: https://soundmask.com.au/blog/geoffrey-harris-interview/