Create’s Acoustics team named joint winner at the ANC Awards 2026
We’re delighted to announce that Create’s Acoustics team were named joint winner in the Innovation category at last night’s Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) Awards, for our work at the Bodleian Libraries Book Storage Facility.
The 2026 ANC Awards took place at the ANC’s Annual Conference at the Treehouse Hotel, Manchester, where shortlisted entrants delivered four-minute presentations on their projects. Principal acoustic consultants, Mat Tuora and Ben Dixon, attended the event and presented the project to an enthusiastic audience of fellow acousticians.
The results of the awards were announced at a dinner that evening, with awards presented by Rupert Thornely-Taylor. The Innovation category, sponsored by Mason, was shared this year between Create and Cundall for their Tides project.
2026 marks our third year as finalists at the ANC Awards – having won awards and commendations in both 2023 and 2025. Congratulations to the whole team on this achievement.
BODLEIAN LIBRARIES BOOK STORAGE FACILITY
The Bodleian facility holds a copy of every publication produced in the UK, stored across four vast interconnected chambers containing 153 miles of shelving and an extensive sprinkler network protecting irreplaceable material.
When plans were developed to construct a fifth storage chamber directly adjacent to the existing archive, foundation works needed to take place as little as one metre from the occupied racking. This raised serious concerns about vibration impacts on the structure, the sprinkler pipework, and the safe operation of the elevated platforms used to access the shelving.
With no existing standards to draw on, our Acoustics team developed a testing methodology from scratch to understand how the facility would respond to different construction activities.
The judges praised the project’s originality and practicality, recognising the technical challenge in the absence of predefined guidance, before highlighting the innovative use of testing and monitoring technology alongside the collaborative approach taken.
Our client, Glencar Construction also echoed this, commending the team for guiding them through the vibration trials and identifying alternative construction methods that allowed the works to be completed on time and within budget, and without incident.
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AWARD-WINNING ADVICE
Our Acoustics team provide specialist advice and technical services supported by the latest technology, monitoring and reporting. We work across all stages of a project lifecycle, from early feasibility right through to handover and post-completion.
To find out more about what we do, reach out to us today.
