Vortex Jazz Club
This space has been independently verified as audio inclusive for noise-sensitive people.
Bronze is the acoustic foundation tier of the Sownd Certification framework. Framework validated by ISVR Consulting.
What This Means For You
This space has been independently verified to the Sownd Bronze standard. If noise wears you out, or you lip-read, or you simply want to hear the person across the table, this certificate tells you the room was designed with you in mind. Bronze verifies the space itself. Silver and Gold add depth: day-to-day operations, then the full experience. A higher tier means a deeper assessment, not better acoustics than this room.
Reverberation and background noise have been measured against clear, verifiable thresholds - not just minimum building codes.
Not a self-declared label. Assessed against the Sownd Certification framework by Sownd Affects - an independent third party.
Thresholds set for the 1 in 3 who are noise-sensitive: hearing loss, tinnitus, ADHD, autism, age. Designed for the most, not just the most vulnerable.
Bronze verifies the room. Silver and Gold deepen the assessment from there. Depth of certification, not a score out of three.
Sensitive to noise? Bronze covers the acoustic foundation, not every detail of the day. Speak to a member of your team regarding a more optimised experience with sound beyond acoustic comfort.
What’s Next? Bronze is the acoustic foundation. Silver adds day-to-day practices and Gold an optimised experience - this space can build towards both.
Spaces Assessed
The following spaces have been Bronze certified at this venue under the Sownd Certification framework. Bronze is awarded space by space, not to the whole building. A space that falls short does not affect the others; it is shown here so you know what to expect before you arrive. Further spaces may be added as assessments complete.
What do these numbers mean?
Tmf is how long sound hangs in the air after it is made, averaged across the speech frequencies. Lower means conversations stay crisp instead of smearing into each other.
NR / LAeq is the steady background hum of the building: ventilation, plant, traffic bleed. Low enough to talk over, not so low that every word carries across the room.
A space marked Certified or Certified with notes has been verified for what it is used for. Certified with notes is honesty, not failure: it tells you what to expect - for example, that background noise may sit above the level recommended for this type of space. Not Applicable means the space is out of scope. Under audit means the space is being re-assessed.
Main Performance Space / Auditorium
CertifiedPrimary jazz performance auditorium assessed for acoustic comfort.
Certification Details
The Sownd Certification Pathway
The tiers measure depth of assessment, not quality. Bronze verifies the space itself; Silver and Gold verify how it runs and how it feels. A Bronze space is not a lesser space. It is a verified one.
The acoustic environment has been independently verified against human-centred thresholds for reverberation and background noise. Specifiable at design stage, proven at completion.
Operational practices keep verified performance from drifting: monitoring, training, and listening to the people who use the space.
The end-to-end experience is built around comfort, choice and hearing access. The zoning that makes Gold possible starts at design stage.