Theatre Projects has appointed world-renowned theatre consultant and international auditorium acoustic designer Rob Harris as a key consultant.
The move marks a significant strengthening of Theatre Projects’ acoustic and theatre design team, as the company embarks on a number of high profile design projects worldwide.
Rob’s impressive 35-year career as an acoustics specialist has seen him amass a plethora of prestigious design credits for cherished performing arts buildings including: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; City Recital Hall, Sydney; Kilden konsertsal, Kristiansand; Bord Gâis Energy Theatre, Dublin and Kings Place, London.
Specifically, Rob is renowned for his acoustic design for some of the world’s most iconic opera houses. These include collaborations with TP on both Glyndebourne Opera House and Oslo Opera House. In addition he has led on the Copenhagen Opera House, the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff and the refurbishment of the Royal Opera House, London.
More recently, working as part of a design team alongside Theatre Projects, on the strategic refurbishment study for the Royal Opera House in Stockholm.
Mark Stroomer, head of Theatre Projects in London, is delighted with the appointment: “Having Rob on our side of the table is exciting. In addition to his wealth of acoustic knowledge, Rob has been at the design heart of many of the world’s contemporary arts venues. Some, like Oslo Opera House, we have worked on together, which makes him the ideal addition to our theatre design team.”
Seb Jouan, Head of Acoustics at Theatre Projects, said: “This is an important boost for our team and I’m delighted to be working with Rob again. He brings immense expertise and experience in the design of performing arts centres. His skill base and experience will complement an already strong and cohesive acoustic design team, which today offers over 60 years of combined experience.”
Fortuitously, Rob and Seb are already well acquainted. Formerly colleagues at Arup, they have collaborated on many projects. The pair are well known for their development of the use of auralisation in auditorium design – a fantastic technique that enables clients and design team colleagues to listen to spaces before they are built.
Rob said: “I worked as a sound operator on shows including Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar in London for Theatre Projects in the 1970s. Forty years later it’s great to be associated with TPC again as they develop integrated room acoustic and theatre design, which I believe is the way forward in the creation of successful performance, rehearsal and digital production spaces.”
Rob’s focus will be to build upon the recent launch of an acoustics team at TP’s Paris studio and to further develop the company’s holistic approach to design.
