Home About Veale Associates History
Our History
60s
- 1965–1968: Introduced the first eight, sixteen and twenty-four track recording to London studios of Advision.
- 1967: First high-level control room reference loudspeaker monitor system designed and used at Advision by Gerald Chevin and Eddie Offord recording Fire Brigade.
- 1969: Rock-and-roll film handling to the Advision dubbing theatre. This format enables the running of film backwards as well as forwards, thus eliminating rewind delay after a false start.
- Moog synthesizer introduced in Europe used by George Harrison (Here Comes the Sun) on the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album.
70s
- 1970: Reference monitor loudspeaker system created for Adrian Kerridge’s control room at Lansdowne Studios, London. Adopted and marketed internationally by Cadac, it set the standard for transparency and realism in the recording environment.
- 1971: Completed home studio for John Lennon at Ascot – the start of serious, professional home studios – and participated in the recording of “Imagine”
- FPHOT studio designed for George Harrison where many legendary recordings were produced.
- Published paper on technical earthing in complex analogue music studio installations reporting the findings of work carried out with Dolby to eliminate hum and noise in multi-track installations which became the standard currently used in all complex installations.
- 1973: Published a paper entitled “The Environmental Designs of a Studio Control Room,” at the first London AES Convention, raising awareness of the acoustic and design considerations to create a reference listening room.
- 1975: Developed technology for measuring room acoustics to create a studio for Gus Dudgeon at The Mill Studio, Cookham. Gus worked with Elton John, producing all his recordings using the first 16bit HP9845 desktop computer. Eddie Veale, along with Dr Jeff Forbes, wrote programmes for calculating, measuring and forecasting acoustic results in control room designs. Measurements employed the first FFT analyser from Bruel & Kjaer and provided Gus with exactly the results he wanted.
- 1976: Veale Associates developed the first presenter-driven UK radio station for Beacon Broadcasting. This was the 19th and last of the first phase of commercial radio broadcast licences awarded in the UK. The eighteen previous stations were all based on the BBC format, having a central control room and requiring at least three operatives to broadcast a single transmission. Veale Associates worked with Jay Oliver (MD) and Alan McKenzie (Programme Controller) to develop designs and obtain acceptance by the Independent Broadcasting Authority for this new format. The station rapidly became the innovative leader of modern day broadcasting and set new standards for the next phase of licence applicants.
80s
- 1983: Fully floating studios installed for Signal Radio (Stoke-on-Trent) to combat noise and vibration from the nearby main-line railway. Acknowledged by the IBA, the studio design passed all their acoustic criteria tests: this was the initial application of jacked-up spring mounted studios, a design used many times since for demanding situations and applications.
- 1985: Ocean Sound involved Veale Associates in bringing commercial radio to the Southampton/ Portsmouth/ Fareham area. Following the award of the licence, Eddie worked with David Lucas (Ocean's MD) to deliver the concept, finding and designing the premises and working with Ocean to help them become the first UK commercial radio station to broadcast 24/7 from day one. Ocean became a success story: the first radio station to be opened by Royalty (HRH Prince Charles) and to turn a million pounds profit in its first year.
90s
- 1990: Veale Associates appointed to design and build Westside studios, London.
- 1991: Carlton Television won the London mid-week television broadcast licence and engaged the Veale Associates team to advise on premises, studios and facilities. The challenge was great because the incumbent, Thames Television, provided the national television switching centre: this had to be relocated and there was only one year from award date to having everything complete and ready to go. Carlton commenced broadcasting on time and set new standards in television quality using digital systems.
- 1992: Classic FM was launched using studios, technical areas and building services designed by Veale Associates. The services designs included the first fully integrated VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) air conditioning system to reuse waste heat from the studios to heat the offices, maintaining comfortable conditions throughout the seasons with no CO2 emissions and significant operating economy.
- 1993: Virgin Radio appointed Veale Associates to design the studios used to launch Virgin 1215 nationally. Design and build was in demand and, to commence their national service, Virgin Radio needed studios built within ten weeks at their Golden Square premises. The building presented new challenges: the studios were to be on the third floor and weight loading was not good. Veale Associates developed designs using dry lightweight materials to achieve the goals and these techniques have subsequently become widely used in studio construction.
- 1997: Relocation of Piccadilly Radio & Key 103, Manchester. This project involved the first relocation of a major commercial radio station. Being key to the northwest and the EMAP Group (now Bauer Media), no loss of airtime was a critical factor in planning. The relocation provided opportunity to focus the Group activities and the new premises became the corporate radio headquarters.
- 1998: Veale Associates enlisted to manage the relocation of newly rebranded Magic. The EMAP Group purchased Melody Radio and rebranded it Magic. Veale Associates relocated Magic to EMAP's Tottenham Court Road premises: a particularly difficult building having very limited floor loadings, little space for studios or services and (because there were existing tenants) no daytime working.
- BRMB relocate to the centre of Birmingham. BRMB (part of the then Capital Radio Group) used the skills and expertise of Veale Associates to orchestrate and manage their relocation to prestige premises in the heart of Birmingham's revitalised city area. Challenges ranged from negotiating antenna and satellite space on the roof of the building and incorporating a standby generator in the basement to integrating the station into a prestigious building in harmony with the owners and other tenants.
- 1999: Radio City appointed Veale Associates as project managers and studio designers of their relocation to the top of the Tower in Liverpool. Radio City decided to relocate to St John's Beacon (Liverpool's Post Office Tower) and appointed Veale Associates to design the studios and project manage the operation. Working closely with Phil Tottey and the professional team of Weightman & Bullen (architects), Thornton Firkin (QS), Land Securities (landlord) and the Local Authority, the project was successfully delivered with enviable prominence and magnificent panoramic views.
2000+
- 2000: Veale Associates relocate Red Dragon FM, Cardiff. Capital Radio appointed Veale Associates to design a new home for Red Dragon Radio and manage its relocation. Time was of the essence as bulldozers were waiting to demolish the old premises at Christmas. The entire project was completed in the space of six months and Red Dragon has a great new home.
- Veale Associates engaged to relocate Magic, Kiss 100 and The Box Television. Veale Associates designed the facilities and collocated Magic and Kiss 100 to EMAP's new London Media Building off Oxford Street. The Box Television was relocated to the Media Building in 2001 and has expanded from one to six stations "… and we aim for more" says Tim Schoonmaker (Chief Executive). Veale Associates worked closely with EMAP's architects, Chiltern Cunningham (who designed the office space), to achieve optimum use of the five-floor building, which also incorporates EMAP's associated magazines.
- 2001: Lincs FM used Veale Associates' services to negotiate a new lease and additional space at the Lincoln corporate premises which Veale Associates designed for them in 1991. The new space was contiguous with their existing offices and Veale Associates worked closely with Michael Betton and Jane Riddle on the design and planning to minimise the effect of the construction works on Lincs’ business activities, resulting in smooth integration and refurbishment of the existing offices.
- Veale Associates worked with artist Patrick Mimran to create a sculpture of the “Tower Of Babel”. Veale Associates made world famous artist Patrick Mimran’s conceptions a reality by first producing a model of the “Tower of Babel” and then installing it in exhibitions in Paris, New York and Graz.
- 2002: Patrick Mimran invited with Veale Associates to fabricate his “Jet Set Giraffe” sculpture. Patrick Mimran once again called upon Veale Associates when producing the animated “Jet Set Giraffe” sculpture, a centrepiece of the “La Parade des Animaux” installation located outside the Grand Casino in Monaco.
- 2003: Specialist rock music radio station Kerrang! Radio enlists Veale Associates to create state of the art studios. These trendy, new studios for Kerrang! Radio broke studio design practice by incorporating huge windows whilst retaining the essential acoustic properties.
- Lansdowne Studios has its first upgrade since Eddie refurbished the main studio in 1972.
- 2004: Veale Associates called upon once again by Patrick Mimran to realise his conception “L’oeuf” exhibited in Jardin du Casino, Monte-Carlo.
- 2005: Veale Associates facilitate the relocation of Classic FM to the Leicester Square studios. This project was a multi-faceted task involving design, project management, creation and delivery of three refurbished studios, a new waiting area, entrance and office space, all in under three months.
- Metro Radio, Newcastle undergoes a studio and office relocation to 55 Degrees North.
- 2006: Rother FM appoint Veale Associates to project manage complete studio and office refurbishment.
- Veale Associates carries out studio alteration work at Real Radio, Scotland.
- Office refurbishment project undertaken at Smooth Radio, London.
- 2007: Studio refurbishment project carried out at Hallam FM, Sheffield.
- Radio Aire, Leeds commission Veale Associates to complete studio refurbishment work.
- Veale Associates designs new studios for Today FM, Dublin.
- New recording studios created for The Hook Centre, Surrey. Veale Associates was commissioned to design new recording studios for the Hook Centre, a state of the art facility offering music making opportunities to the local community.
- Century FM (now Real Radio) appointed Veale Associates to manage the relocation of studios and offices to new premises in Gateshead.
- Veale Associates commissioned to renovate Dean Street Studios: this project involved complete renewal of the historic Soho based studios which offer both analogue and digital recording and mixing facilities to artists, who have in the past included David Bowie.
- 2007-2009: Veale Associates project managed the amalgamation of GMG Radio, Manchester to Laser House. Rock Radio, Real Radio and Smooth Radio were relocated from various locations within Manchester to central premises, a major operation involving studio, office and building services system design whilst maintaining broadcast of all three radio stations.
- 2008: Oak FM, Leicestershire, called upon the Veale Associates team to design and project manage the installation of new studios and offices.
- Veale Associates enlisted by Technicolor to provide noise consultation and solution at their television broadcast facility in London.
- Veale Associates creates new studios for Real Radio, Yorkshire.
- 2009: Christian Vision engage Veale Associates in a studio design project in Kiev, Ukraine.
