CLIENT
Aniara
LOCATION
ABBA Arena, London, UK
YEAR
2022
PROJECT TYPE
Purpose-built venue – room acoustics design
Scope
Architectural acoustics and active acoustic design
Services Provided
- →Acoustic response modelling and design
- →Specification of acoustic treatments
- →Integration of active acoustic systems
- →Coordination with venue architecture and loudspeaker system design
- →Onsite commissioning and tuning
The Brief
We were engaged by Aniara as audio and acoustics consultants for ABBA Arena, a custom-built venue for ABBA Voyage. While our wider role included immersive audio design and show sound design, this case study focuses on our acoustic engineering scope.
Our task was to design an acoustical environment that would not only complement our immersive loudspeaker system but also support the creative intent of the show, delivering clarity, engagement, and immersion in equal measure.
The audience had to feel like they were at a stadium-scale concert, while still enjoying the intelligibility, intimacy and warmth of a bespoke venue. This required a balance of passive acoustic treatment and active acoustic enhancement.
The Challenge
The room needed to sound like a concert arena without introducing the typical uncontrolled reflections, reverberation or slapback associated with large-scale venues. But it also needed to avoid sounding too flat or dry, which would undermine the immersive experience.
And with the loudspeaker system and active acoustics designed in parallel, we had to ensure tight integration between passive treatment, system coverage and electronic enhancement, all while coordinating with a rapidly evolving architectural design.
Our Approach
Our approach combined broadband passive absorption with the L-Acoustics Ambience system to create a responsive, adaptable environment.
We designed and specified high-coverage acoustic treatments for the walls and ceiling to control unwanted reflections and reverberation. This gave us a neutral baseline from which to shape the experience using electronic acoustic enhancement, tailored to each moment of the show.
By tuning the space to respond dynamically, we were able to create a room that could feel expansive or intimate, depending on the scene, while ensuring that dialogue, vocals and music were all delivered with clarity and presence.
Acoustic Design
Wall Treatment
We applied 100mm of broadband acoustic absorption to approximately 80% of five out of six walls in the arena. The only untreated wall is the high-definition LED screen at the rear of the stage, which forms a central element of the show’s visual identity.
Ceiling Treatment
The ceiling was treated in a similar manner, with 65% coverage using the same 100mm broadband absorptive material, designed to control vertical reflections without impacting the loudspeaker array performance.
L-Acoustics Ambience – Active Acoustics
ABBA Arena is the first commercial deployment of L-Acoustics Ambience. This system allows the venue’s acoustic response to be shaped in real time via:
- 16 room microphones
- Four L-Acoustics P1 processors
- Targeted reinforcement through surround and overhead loudspeakers
Ambience is used to subtly inject early and late energy into the space, creating a natural sense of air and scale without overwhelming the clarity of the mix. It allows for seamless transitions between different acoustic environments throughout the performance.
The Results
The acoustic design of ABBA Arena played a key role in the success of ABBA Voyage, creating a balanced, immersive and engaging sonic environment from every seat in the house.
Audiences experience a space that feels real but never intrusive, with every word and note clearly defined, no matter how big the moment becomes.
By combining precise architectural acoustics with intelligent, real-time enhancement, we helped deliver an experience that’s not only immersive but emotionally resonant and truly unlike any other concert environment.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
A huge thanks to Ludvig, Svana and Nick for getting us involved in the project. Please see below for detailed credits.
Our Team
The acoustic design and engineering was completed by Scott Willsallen and Luis Miranda.
Our Supplier
Thanks to L-Acoustics for their support in implementing the Ambiance system.
ABBA Voyage Credits
Aniara Creative:
Producer – Svana Gisla, Producer – Ludvig Andersson, Director – Baille Walsh, Line Producer – Josh Barwick, ILM Movement Director – Ben Morris, VFX creative director – Nikki Penny, Choreographer – Wayne McGregor, Musical Director – Martin Lowe, Instrument Director – Philip Adams.
Production:
Technical Producer – Nick Levitt, Technical Director – Joe Frisina, Head of Infrastructure – Chris Hey, Rigging Consultant – Jon Bray
Venue:
Construction – Tony Wheeler & James Lee (ESG), Technical design – Andy Prescott (ESG), Structural Engineering – Ewa Hazla & Aran Chadwick (Atelier One), Concourse construction – Stage One
Design:
Design and Engineering Consultants – Jeremy Lloyd (Wonder Works), Venue Architects Alicia Tkacz (Stufish Entertainment Architects), Visual Consultant – Mathieu Debay (Tetro), Audio Design – Scott Willsallen (Auditoria), Video Technical Director – Anthony Bezencon (VYV), Lighting Director – Fredrik Stormby (Greenwall), Kinetic Design – Christopher Bauder (White Void), Laser Design – Michael Sollinger, Laser Design & Programming – Sascha Kwasny (Tarm Show Laser)
Suppliers:
Systems Supplier – Ian Woodall & Paul McCauley (Solotech), Kinetics – Florian Fink (White Void), Lasers supplier #1 – Michael Sollinger, Lasers supplier #2 – Sascha Kwasny (Tarm Show Laser), Rigging – Mike Goodwin & Calum Willoughby (Unusual Rigging), Automation & Stage – Geert Stockmans (WiCreations), LED Screen Wall Hardware – Brecht Moreels (Twenty-Three), Soft Goods Auditorium Wall – Tom Lambert (Black Out), Soft Goods Roll Drops – Daphne Cosquer (ShowTex), Custom stage barrier – Anthony Sinclair (EPS), Carpentry – Liam Hill (Coldharbour Industries)
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