CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES

One of the most difficult aspects in the acoustical design

of Churches is RT control

The Chancel and Pulpit, as well as the organ and choir,

should be well elevated and surrounded by reflective
enclosures

Churches usually consist of several coupled spaces

NOTRE DAME, PARIS CHARTRES, PARIS

 CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES

ST. JOHN BREBEUF CHURCH, QUEBEC

CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES

PACIFIC UNION CHURCH, CALIFORNIA

CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES

GRACE CHURCH, ILLINOIS

CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES

SPRING LAKE, WISCONSIN

 MULTI-PURPOSE HALLS

Most multi-purpose auditoriums

have an excessively long RT

One frequent cause of a long

RT is the unraked or level floor

Multi purpose halls in

basements of buildings can
have an RT of from 5-8
seconds
 MOTION PICTURE THEATERS
Motion picture theaters represent an exclusively single
purpose auditorium

The original sound source is not

present but is a mere reproduction,
reflecting the acoustical character
of the motion picture studio in
which the films scene was shot

Motion picture theaters should

have a relatively short RT

MARKET! MARKET!
 MOTION PICTURE THEATERS
The room should be raked, with
the room length not exceeding
50M
Heavily upholstered seats should
be used to counteract fluctuating
attendance

The front wall behind the

screen is treated with
absorptive material to avoid
back reflections from the
speakers
 MOTION PICTURE THEATERS
The size of the screen depends on the theater area

The projection room,

acoustically treated because of
the noise it produces, should
be located at the center
 RECORDING STUDIOS
Of all spaces which require acoustical
attention, recording studios are the most
complex
The frequency range considered in studios
is from 32 - 8000 Hz

For rectangular studios certain room

proportions are generally advocated; for
small studios the recommended ratio is
1:1.25:1.6 (H:W:L); for medium sized
studios, 1:1.5:2.5
Small studio: 2.70m x 3.375m x 4.32m
Medium studio: 3.00m x 4.50m x 7.50m
 RECORDING STUDIOS

Different required RTs can not

be avoided so variable
absorbers and electronically
controlled RT devices are used

To avoid noise and vibration

detection, studios make use of
structural isolation, sound locks,
multi-leaf panels, and other
acoustical technology
 RADIO STUDIOS
There are several types of studios for broadcasting
Announcers Booth: The smallest
studio, normally associated with a
larger one. The floor area is only about
14m2

Talk Studio: Used for newscasts, panel

discussions, addresses, and even
recitals, the floor area is about 47m2

Drama Studio: Floor area is from 56

to 140m2
PLACE DE RADIO, MONTREAL
 RADIO STUDIOS

Versatile Studio: Used for either

speech or musical presentations, floor
area varies between 140 and 370m2

Audience Studio: Used for

broadcasting choral and orchestral
programs

GRAND DE SALLE CONCERTS, RADIO

PARIS, PARIS
 TELEVISION STUDIOS

Acoustical conditions are not as critical as for radio studios

because the settings, scenery, and properties will change
the acoustical environment

Reverberation Time in TV studios are usually short. If longer

RTs are required the performance moves to a Satellite Audio
Studio

There are several types of television studios

Audience studios with permanent audience seating
General-purpose studios, for all types of programs
Small Interview studios
Dubbing Suites
 TELEVISION STUDIOS

Television studios normally have most of the following

auxiliary rooms, all with short RTs:

Production Control Room

Sound Control Room
Lighting Control Room
Announcers Booth
Storage Areas

The control rooms are often

located one storey higher than
PLACE DE RADIO, MONTREAL
the studio floor
 CONTROL ROOMS

Every radio, television, or recording studio is linked with a control

room, where the control desk is located
Visual contact between the studio and control room is provided
by a wide control window.
 CONTROL ROOMS

The size and shape of the control

room depend on how many people
and how much equipment it will
accommodate
 MOTION PICTURE STUDIOS

Economy in construction and efficiency of operation suggest

that several large sized motion picture studios be grouped
together

Motion picture studios are usually built as large halls with

highly absorbent enclosures so that the sets can contribute
their own acoustical characteristics as required.

Provision for the required short RT and for a high degree of

noise and vibration isolation within these studios is the
main acoustical objective.
 OTHER BUILDING TYPES
Residential Buildings: residences in suburban districts require a
higher degree of sound insulation than those built in noisy areas.

Hotels: Three types of spaces require attention: 1) public and social

rooms, 2) guest rooms, 3) circulation areas. These spaces must
have adequate noise control and proper reverberation
characteristics.

Schools: The most essential considerations for sound control are site
selection, site planning, and architectural programming. Room
acoustical design of classrooms, lecture halls, auditoriums,
libraries, music rooms, gyms, etc. must also be considered.
 OTHER BUILDING TYPES
Hospitals: Interior noise sources are major problems because
inherent mechanical units of a hospital are fundamentally noisy

Airports: other than the problem of aircraft noise, airports provide

additional services for both airlines and passengers. These spaces
require direct speech, public address systems, and telephone
conversations. Thus, the acoustical criteria should be established
with these considerations.

Industrial Buildings: protection for the workers from noise is the

most essential consideration. Speech communication among
workers is also important.
 OTHER BUILDING TYPES
Restaurants: acoustical problem is reducing reverberation and noise.
Sound absorptive treatment should be generously placed. If
possible, sound locks should be placed between the kitchen and
dining area.

Offices: noise control of offices should include adequate vertical

and horizontal insulation between office spaces, reasonable
noise reduction within a particular office space, and proper
zoning

Museums and Libraries: a quiet environment is essential for

reading, studying, or contemplating works of art. A
reasonable amount of sound absorptive material should be
used for a short RT and to help insulate sound from exterior
sources