As part of a historic transformation, the Manufacture des Tabacs in Toulouse—an emblematic 19th-century industrial site—underwent a major renovation to become a university and civic space. The challenge for our acoustic consultants was to advise on custom acoustic solutions that respected the heritage architecture while meeting contemporary standards of comfort, education, and performance. The site hosts amphitheaters, meeting rooms, offices, and shared spaces. Balancing acoustic requirements across such diverse uses, while preserving architectural authenticity and managing reverberation in large, open areas, required precise modeling, phasing, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Our engineers designed and implemented tailored acoustic treatment strategies throughout the building. This included reverberation control in open halls, acoustic insulation between shared and quiet areas, and special care in spaces requiring high speech intelligibility, such as amphitheaters and classrooms. The architectural constraints of this listed building meant that treatments had to be integrated with discretion—often invisibly—requiring custom technical detailing. We also provided dynamic coordination throughout the construction phases to adjust technical recommendations according to evolving heritage and design requirements. All solutions followed the French acoustic standards for public institutions and higher education spaces.
The renovated Manufacture des Tabacs is now a benchmark in heritage-sensitive renovation with high acoustic performance. Each space delivers optimal comfort without compromising the historic character of the site. The project demonstrates how acoustic engineering can enable the successful adaptation of historic buildings to modern uses—improving functionality, concentration, and overall user experience. The result is a high-performing, sound-conscious campus that continues to serve both public and institutional life in the heart of Toulouse.
