Style has delivered a bespoke acoustic solution as part of an extensive CAT B refurbishment of The Pattern Shop, a Grade II listed industrial landmark in Newcastle. Working alongside Overbury, Style installed Autex acoustic products across four floors, introducing high-impact design features that enhance the building’s heritage character while delivering effective acoustic performance for a contemporary workplace accommodating around 600 employees.
A defining element of the scheme is the installation of more than 1,000 linear metres of Beam 100 rafts. Drawing on the site’s railway heritage, the ceiling system forms a distinctive architectural feature across the top floor, balancing strong visual rhythm with superior sound absorption that contributes to an acoustically controlled environment.
Complementing this, Autex acoustic wall panels were integrated throughout key areas to improve overall sound quality and occupant comfort. Carefully positioned within the building’s existing fabric, the solutions support a layered acoustic strategy that enables a mix of collaborative, focused and social working environments, while respecting the architectural integrity of the original structure.
Originally built as part of Robert Stephenson’s pioneering locomotive works in the early 1800s, The Pattern Shop remains one of Newcastle’s most significant industrial heritage buildings. The Grade II listed structure has been sensitively reimagined, with original features such as exposed beams and cast iron columns carefully retained to preserve its historic identity.
The refurbishment demanded a highly considered approach to material selection and design integration, ensuring modern workplace requirements could be maintained without diminishing the character of the building. Style’s acoustic interventions play a key role in achieving this balance, introducing a design language that responds directly to the site’s industrial past.
Through a combination of technical expertise and architectural sensitivity, Style has contributed to the transformation of this landmark building, demonstrating how acoustic design can enhance both performance and spatial experience within complex heritage environments.
Photo credit: Copyright SG photography Ltd.