Dorset

Shaftesbury School

The school sports hall suffered from high levels of volume and echo, and needed updating to be acoustically fit for purpose as a multi-use venue.

Used for a multitude of different uses, Shaftesbury School’s main school hall exhibited acoustic problems typical of 1980’s designs, with wooden surfaces leading to unacceptably high levels of volume and echo.

Its multi-use construction meant that it needed to serve many functions: it was a PE classroom; it was a drama and music performance area; it was a canteen; it was a training area; it was the area for the daily act of collective worship; it hosted many different kinds of public event. However, surrounded by wooden panels, acoustics promoted unacceptably high levels of volume and echo and consequently posed many barriers and challenges.

With the further addition of retractable seating, Acoustic Comfort’s Reverb application has transformed the entire area. The acoustic impact has been significant. Presentations by individuals or groups can now be heard within a sympathetic ambience and distracting noises completely absorbed.

This has served to generate a level of calm amidst large gatherings never before achieved, whilst enhancing the quality of sound for those presenting. Acoustic Comfort listened carefully to and quickly grasped their core values and these were effectively captured within the design work on the panelling.

Reverberation times (RT60) and Mid-frequency reverberation time (Tmf)

Reverberation time test results

Test results show the acoustic performance in the hall before and after treatment with Reverb.

Reverberation is measured over time, using Reverberation time and Mid-frequency reverberation time scales. Optimum reverberation time depends on the use of the space. For speech a reverberation time of between 0.8 and 1.3 seconds is considered good.

Reverberation time (RT60) is defined as the time required, in seconds, for the average sound in a room to decrease by 60 decibels after a source stops generating sound.

Mid-frequency reverberation time (Tmf) is used to produce an average of the 500Hz, 1kHz and 2kHz bands.

Client testimonial

Acoustic Comfort has achieved the transformation of our multi-purpose area from an outdated and outmoded facility to a venue fit for purpose in a twenty first century setting.’