As London’s first purpose-built mid-sized live music venue to open in more than a decade, the British Airways ARC represents a significant addition to the capital’s cultural landscape. Located within the landmark Olympia redevelopment, the 3,800-capacity venue has already been praised for its exceptional acoustics, immersive audience experience and ability to bridge the gap between intimate concert halls and large-scale arenas.

OR Consulting was delighted to contribute to this landmark project as Building Services, Acoustic and Specialist Lighting Consultant, helping to create a venue capable of supporting world-class live performances while delivering an outstanding experience for audiences, artists and operators alike.

Behind the scenes, our multidisciplinary design combined high-performance engineering with sustainable thinking. The building incorporates district heating, on-site microgeneration and intelligent building controls that adapt efficiently between event and non-event operation, reducing energy consumption without compromising performance.

A key aspect of the project was the seamless integration of the specialist systems that allow the venue to operate at the highest professional standard. Our scope included theatrical lighting infrastructure for touring productions, DMX lighting controls, house lighting, integrated audio and acoustic solutions, hearing enhancement systems, specialist IT and broadcast infrastructure, together with fire detection and voice alarm systems carefully designed to accommodate theatrical smoke effects.

The result is a technically sophisticated, highly adaptable entertainment venue that supports an ambitious programme of live music and events while setting a new benchmark for performance, sustainability and audience experience. As the British Airways ARC begins its next chapter, OR Consulting is proud to have helped create a venue designed to inspire performers and audiences for years to come.