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Large Venues and Auditoriums
By Brian Murphey
From an acoustical standpoint, it's best to limit the number of different uses for a venue, and this is best planned early on. For example, a lecture hall that also serves as a musical performance hall will never be great for either use acoustically. If a venue has poor acoustics, you can spend a million dollars on a sound system and still fail to make a difference. For this reason, EDI typically tries to be involved during the conceptual stages of design.
Due to acoustical challenges, technology and audio-visual enhancements are critical for a large venue or auditorium, such as a performance/lecture hall or sports arena. In a large room it is more difficult for the audience to hear or see a presenter or performer. Therefore, at a basic level, larger venues often require speech reinforcement and video projection systems to ensure the audience can hear and see what they came for. In some cases, the acoustical design of the space can supplant the need for an electronic speech reinforcement system.
- A large space can serve as a great venue with input from an audio-visual expert in the following areas
- Shape of the space for acoustics
- Construction material review for noise control
- Finishes for reverberation control
- Seating layouts and floor slope for sightlines
- Ceiling heights for accommodating screens
- Lighting for visibility needs
- Power distribution and data networks for equipment connection and systems
- HVAC design for low ambient noise
- Plumbing design - nobody wants to hear toilets flushing while listening to a distinguished lecturer!
Recently EDI was able to enhance a project where the architect and owner had already planned to use the space as both a convocation hall and basketball arena. They had also already decided that the roof would be a large dome. Both the dome and the multiple uses of the facility presented many acoustical challenges. During the design development phase, EDI used acoustic modeling, a sophisticated, software-based, 3-D acoustical mock-up, and advised the owner on finishes that improved speech intelligibility in the space. The architect was advised to incorporate vestibules to provide acoustic isolation between noisy public spaces and acoustically sensitive areas. The custom roof dome manufacturer was directed to alter the finish material composition. In addition, the plan included conduits in the building for installed audio-visual systems as well as future systems that would be added as technology developed. This project shows that getting an audio-visual expert with acoustical expertise involved early, even during project conception, is ideal.
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