Wood wool acoustic panels - a sound choice for cost-effective, award-winning design
High-end London construction firm’s headquarters gets award-winning makeover for lightweight, sustainable airspace design.
New Wave London is a high-end construction company specialising in bespoke residential and commercial projects. When seeking to showcase its commitment to adaptive reuse, the company collaborated with Thomas-McBrien Architects to explore how its headquarters could be expanded using low impact materials, transforming the building into a living demonstration of how existing structures can be reimagined to provide much-needed workspace for both staff and the wider creative community.
Working to the concept of air-space development Thomas-McBrien Architects utilised the area above the existing building to create a 600 sqm lightweight timber pavilion, complete with a communal roof terrace featuring green roofs and native planting.
Despite the scale of the works, New Wave London’s headquarters remained fully operational throughout the two-year construction period. An enclosed scaffold wrapped the entire building, allowing year-round construction, minimal disruption, and uninterrupted business operations.
Lightweight, low-carbon design
The project embodies a low-technology, light-touch approach — using responsibly sourced, low-embodied-carbon materials that can be reused at end-of-life. The new structure employs PEFC-certified Douglas-fir glulam, paired with Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels across the ceilings.
These wood wool panels provide both acoustic comfort and a warm, textured finish. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they offer a durable, low-maintenance and cost-effective alternative to traditional plasterboard, with the added benefit of being fully reusable at the end of their 60-year lifespan.
The project demonstrates how a holistic and thoughtful approach to materials can dramatically reduce both embodied and operational carbon. The embodied carbon of the new extension is calculated at 166 kgCO₂e/m². However, when accounting for carbon sequestration, the embodied carbon value is reduced to -35 kgCO₂e/m².
Architectural collaboration
Reflecting on the project, Barry McBrien, founder of Thomas-McBrien Architects, emphasised the importance of sustainable design in an industry with significant environmental impact:
"We recognise our responsibility to advocate for efficient, resource-conscious architecture. This extension sets a benchmark for urban regeneration, combining sustainability with practical, well-designed spaces. Ziomek and his New Wave London team’s active involvement, courage, investment, and creative input throughout the design process enabled us to push boundaries and deliver an innovative, sustainable building. Their willingness to share their expertise and skill set inspired new ideas and elevated the project to new heights.”
Ziomek Wiertelak, Managing Director of New Wave London, echoed the sentiment:
“Our new headquarters has exceeded our expectations. It stands as a testament to the power of great architecture and the impact of thoughtful, well-executed design."
Circular materials and indoor comfort
Troldtekt’s acoustic wood wool panels support the circular economy and are ideal where acoustics, durability, and design aesthetics are equally important. Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold level, Troldtekt panels are manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC PEFC/09-31-030 and FSC® C115450) and contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, WELL, or LEED certification.
