The new 7000 square foot music building enhances the existing public high school’s music education program by providing instructional facilities that leverage the structure to improve acoustics and instruction space.
The project goals were met by developing the program through factoring cubic volume by the number of individuals and instruments to help control the volume.
By outward corbelling the reinforced masonry one inch per course at one corner, and while leaving the opposite corner plumb, nonparallel and warped walls were created to minimize standing waves and flutter echo. The resulting geometry makes the wall gradually transition from plumb to a seven degree slope.
Dividing instrumental and vocal music with a service core and by breaking the roof diaphragm provided sound isolation between programs allowing both choral and instrumental music to simultaneously have practice time without competing.
Multipurpose acoustical treatments were added to help further increase acoustical quality. Sound absorbers that double as information tack boards were applied strategically and by skewing instrument storage cabinets the end walls are utilized as diffusers to fill the space with music.
Undulating triangulated ribbons of gypsum board were used as overhead diffusers while leaving a little under fifty percent of the ceiling open to absorbers above.
The result while adhering to a restrictive budget is an upside- down, acoustically superior structure in which the roof holds up outward hyperboloid walls.
