The Oscar Innovation Centre is officially open. Designed by Urban & Rural, the building is the new HQ for Britain’s leading architectural acoustic specialists, Oscar Acoustics and showcases the company’s acoustic products in a real-life setting.
Oscar Acoustics has opened its new headquarters and product showroom, the Oscar Innovation Centre, in Medway Valley, Kent. Spanning 16,200 square feet, the building was designed by the RIBA-chartered Urban & Rural and is located on a former cement works site. This purpose-built facility supports Oscar Acoustics' growth and mission of delivering sustainable acoustic solutions throughout Great Britain.
Each space within the Oscar Innovation Centre has been meticulously treated with the company's SonaSpray acoustic spray products, demonstrating their power to absorb sound and create distraction-free, calm environments. Architects and designers are invited to tour the centre to experience firsthand how SonaSpray can visually and acoustically transform spaces.
It also features the company’s Oscar Evo-Blade razor-edge profile and Oscar Elite acoustic plaster to create dramatic shifts in ceiling height, sharp recessed lighting channels and smooth, elegant ceilings with optimal reverberation control.
Sustainability is a core value for Oscar Acoustics, which is reflected in the Oscar Innovation Centre's credentials. The building has earned the prestigious 'Green Plaque[AY3] ' status, a peer-reviewed certification for high sustainability standards administered by Lifecycle Design. Additionally, it holds an A+ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), placing it in the top 0.35% of energy-efficient projects in England and marking it as a net-zero emissions building. According to Andrew Pook, Environmental Consultant from Green Plaque, the project exemplifies commitment, expertise, and enthusiasm for sustainable building practices.
Ben Hancock, managing director of Oscar Acoustics, said: "Our new A+ EPC-rated, net zero emissions HQ isn't just a building; it's a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental excellence. We've built on our sustainability goals year-on-year, so we're extremely proud to be recognised at this level."
The company became ISO 14001 certified in 2020 and achieved its independently certified carbon-neutral status in 2023. This milestone marks the latest step in the company's ongoing sustainability journey, with goal-oriented objectives to achieve net zero by 2050.
The SonaSpray range, featured prominently in the Innovation Centre, is composed of fire-treated recycled paper and has been used in several sustainable UK projects, such as the University of East Anglia's Enterprise Centre. It aligns with multiple health and sustainability certifications, including WELL, BREEAM, SKA, and the Living Building Challenge. It contributes up to 17 points towards LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings. SonaSpray also holds GREENGUARD Gold certification, supporting indoor air quality.
The Oscar Innovation Centre exemplifies the transformative abilities of SonaSpray, which Ben Hancock describes as integral to creating acoustically balanced building interiors that sound as good as they look.
Tours of the Oscar Innovation Centre offer design teams and potential clients a unique opportunity to witness Oscar Acoustics’ full product range in action and envision the potential for their projects. Should you wish, Managing Director Ben Hancock also offers a ‘detailing of acoustic finishes’ CPD at the end of the tour, providing clients with expert insights into how its acoustic solutions can work for their projects. Click here to book a tour.
You can view Oscar Acoustics on NBS Source.
