Acoustic upgrade at Amsterdam Central: from echo to tranquility in a historic space
Improving acoustics in historic buildings requires a smart and sensitive approach. At Amsterdam Central Station, this challenge came to life in the former 3rd class waiting room, now used as a modern office and meeting space. The space retained its original character and architectural details, but suffered from poor acoustics and excessive reverberation. To enhance comfort without compromising the building’s heritage, a tailored acoustic solution was essential.
Birgit Brinks
From acoustic measurement to tailored solution
Arcadis carried out a detailed acoustic study for ProRail, measuring reverberation times across multiple interior spaces. This historic waiting room at Amsterdam Central, now used as an office and meeting space, proved to be a key problem area. High ceilings, hard surfaces, and minimal sound absorption caused excessive reverberation. As a result, sound lingered in the space and conversations blended into background noise, creating an uncomfortable working environment. The original images clearly show a beautiful, character-rich space, but with poor acoustic performance.
Acoustic panels that match the existing design
ProRail asked us to develop an effective acoustic solution that would preserve the room’s original look and feel. We installed four large EASYphoto acoustic panels, each approximately 2.60 metres wide and 3.50 metres high. We carefully matched the panels to the existing textiles, dimensions, and visual style. This ensured a seamless integration into the historic interior. While the appearance of the space remains unchanged, the acoustic experience has dramatically improved. Reverberation is reduced, noise levels are lower, and the room now offers a calm and comfortable environment for work and meetings.
Left: the original situation. Right: the result with our EASYphoto acoustic solution.
Technical challenge: no drilling or gluing allowed
A key constraint in this project was that no drilling or gluing was permitted. This required a smart and technically advanced solution. Our technician Gudo designed a custom suspension system using steel cables. The acoustic panels feature an extra-strong frame with internal cross-bracing, ensuring maximum stability and preventing sagging over time. Despite their large size, the panels maintain their shape perfectly. This non-invasive installation method makes it possible to apply high-quality acoustic solutions in heritage environments, without making permanent changes to the building.
Preserving heritage, improving acoustics
This project proves that acoustic optimisation and heritage preservation can go hand in hand. The space has transformed from an echo-filled, noisy environment into a balanced and comfortable acoustic setting, without compromising its historic character.
Today, the room still evokes the atmosphere of travel and anticipation. A place where, not so long ago, people would wait and depart, perhaps with one quiet reminder lingering in the air: never board the train without your suitcase of dreams.
