Sandy Brown

What Sandy Brown does

Sandy Brown Ltd is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the United Kingdom, founded in 1969 and headquartered in London. The firm provides specialist advisory services in building acoustics, noise control, vibration, and environmental noise, operating across the full project lifecycle from planning-stage surveys through detailed RIBA-stage design to construction-phase commissioning. Service offerings include environmental noise impact assessments, acoustic modelling, sound insulation design, reverberation control, building services noise and vibration control, and sound system performance specification. The client base spans architects, contractors, developers, government bodies, and NHS trusts, with sectors covered including arts and culture (Royal Albert Hall, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Citizens Theatre Glasgow), education (St Paul's Girls' School), healthcare (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Countess of Chester Hospital, Balfour Hospital Orkney), media (BBC, Bloomberg LP), hospitality (Ritz Carlton Dubai), government (Scottish Parliament), and financial services (Lloyds Banking Group).

Name

Sandy Brown

Legal name

Sandy Brown Ltd

Website

https://sandybrown.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sandy Brown is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the UK, providing specialist advisory services in building acoustics, noise control, and vibration for architects, developers, contractors, and government bodies across arts, healthcare, education, media, and commercial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acoustic Consultancy

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

akta.pro primary industry

Noise & Vibration Monitoring (Environmental/Community/Construction) (EUAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Noise & Vibration Control for HVAC (Silencers/Isolation) (IMADANAL), Soundproofing & Acoustic Insulation (Walls/Ceilings) (HSAPAFAH)

Keywords

• Acoustic consultancy
• Noise control
• Vibration control
• Building acoustics
• Environmental acoustics

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Acoustic Consultancy Services: Professional consulting services providing acoustic design advice across all RIBA stages from concept through construction and commissioning. Services include environmental noise surveys, acoustic modelling, sound insulation design, reverberation control, and building services noise and vibration control.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sandy Brown is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the UK, providing noise control, vibration control, building acoustic measurement, and expert acoustic advice for legal and planning matters. The firm delivers project-based acoustic expertise from offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Belfast to clients across the built environment.

Product overview

Sandy Brown is the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the UK, providing expert advisory services in building acoustics, noise, and vibration since 1969. The company operates as a single unified consulting service rather than a software platform, offering acoustic consultancy across diverse building sectors including education, healthcare, arts and culture, residential, government, sports, transportation, industrial, and worship. Services range from environmental noise surveys and planning support through detailed acoustic design and construction-phase commissioning, with specialized expertise in studios, auditoria, and performance spaces. The portfolio spans high-profile projects including the Royal Albert Hall sound system, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, and major healthcare facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Noise Control Consultancy Independent noise control advice, assessment, and mitigation design for buildings, developments, and environmental settings across the UK. Serves developers, architects, planners, and operators needing acoustic support on construction and operational noise.
• Vibration Control Consultancy Assessment and mitigation of vibration in building and infrastructure projects, addressing construction and operational vibration impacts. Advises clients in the UK built environment on vibration control strategy and design.
• Building Acoustic Measurement On-site acoustic measurement services for buildings — capturing sound and vibration data to support design verification, compliance testing, and post-completion assessment. Used by building owners, designers, and project teams.
• Legal Acoustic Advice Expert acoustic input for legal matters, including expert witness work and acoustic evidence for disputes and proceedings. Targeted at legal teams and parties involved in acoustic-related litigation or claims.
• Planning Acoustic Advice Acoustic consultancy supporting UK planning applications and planning-stage acoustic assessments, including noise impact evaluations for proposed developments. Serves developers, planners, and local authorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• World's largest single-room audio system installed at Royal Albert Hall with 465 permanently installed loudspeakers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Max Fordham: Independent UK building services and acoustic engineering consultancy with strong cultural sector credentials. Similar size and independent positioning, often competing on performing arts and higher education projects.
• Hilson Moran: Independent UK building services and acoustic engineering consultancy with strong commercial real estate credentials. Overlaps with Sandy Brown on office fit-out and mixed-use development acoustics.
• Hoare Lea Acoustics: UK building services engineering consultancy with a substantial acoustics team. Closest direct peer in the independent UK market — competing head-to-head on commercial, residential, and cultural projects at similar scale.
• Cundall Acoustics: Independent engineering consultancy with multi-disciplinary practice including acoustics. Comparable mid-sized UK firm competing on similar building sector projects.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM Acoustics: Multinational engineering consultancy with acoustics specialists across environmental, architectural, and transportation sectors. Overlaps with Sandy Brown on healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects at larger scale.
• Arup Acoustics: Global engineering consultancy with a large acoustics practice serving performing arts, infrastructure, and buildings. Direct competitor on large integrated projects where Sandy Brown operates; broader scale and multidisciplinary capabilities give it an advantage on mega-bids.
• WSP Acoustics: Global professional services firm with a substantial acoustics team offering environmental noise, building acoustics, and vibration services. Competes with Sandy Brown on commercial developments, transport infrastructure, and large public-sector projects.
• Buro Happold: International engineering consultancy with a dedicated acoustics team working on cultural venues, healthcare, and higher education. Direct competitor on heritage and performing arts projects where Sandy Brown specialises.
• AtkinsRéalis Acoustics: Global design, engineering, and project management consultancy with acoustics teams across transport, buildings, and environment. Competes with Sandy Brown particularly on UK public infrastructure and planning-stage noise assessments.
• Ramboll Acoustics: Global engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm with an acoustics practice covering buildings, environment, and industry. Comparable services portfolio and similar project types to Sandy Brown, particularly in Northern Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sandy Brown