New Concert Hall of Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice

The new home of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, one of the most cutting edge and distinguished cultural buildings in Poland opened on 1st October 2014 in Katowice.

The project was completed in an impressive two and half years with Buro Happold’s partner, Ian Booth, and project leaders, Sławomir Pastuszka and Paweł Lysiak, present at the inauguration ceremony.

Polish Radio Symphony Hall
Delivering a world-class concert hall for the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and creating a distinguished musical venue for Poland. Image: Bartek Barczyk

With a capacity of almost 1,800, this world-class concert hall’s acoustics met the highest standards applied by the world-renowned acoustic consulting firm, Nagata Acoustics. To ensure compliance with these standards, a 1/10-scale model study was carried out to confirm the hall’s acoustics in the laboratory environment designed initially using acoustic computer modelling.

Buro Happold’s structural and mechanical engineering solutions enabled the building to meet acoustics requirements for this unique construction. The noise emitted by ventilation units was reduced to a minimum to allow undisturbed concerts and studio recordings. To achieve this effect, the ventilation facility was relocated outside the building, while inside the concert hall wooden displacement air diffusers were employed, especially designed for the building’s needs. Sound distribution from one room to another was reduced to a minimum thanks to the supplying of utilities via facade pilasters.

To insulate the concert hall against the noise produced outside, it was surrounded by an atrium and auxiliary rooms: rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms and a chamber music hall able to hold an audience of 300 people. For the same reason, all the walls and roofing were made of reinforced concrete. The designers proposed using black-tinted concrete for the concert hall walls, which refers to the Silesian mining tradition.

Working closely with our client, our structural and mechanical & electrical teams brought global knowledge to the project to enhance the audience experience, making the concert hall a leading venue for music in Poland.

Warsaw-based partner, Ian Booth stated: “We are extremely honoured to have taken part in such a marvellous cultural venue creation and contribute to Polish prime buildings being recognisable on an international stage. The project was a great challenge, that’s why I feel extremely satisfied and proud to see how the fruits of Buro Happold’s work impress the audience.”