It takes a lot of preparation and planning to design a new church. This is always a very exciting time when a decision is made to build a new facility or supplement an existing one.
It takes a lot of preparation and planning to design a new church. This is always a very exciting time when a decision is made to build a new facility or supplement an existing one. The last thing someone wants is to open the doors of their new beautifully designed object and find it practically unusable, because no one took the time to think about acoustics at the design or planning stage. On paper, the room may look great, it may even seem that everything is thought out. A new high-quality sound system was ordered, new plush benches were selected, its size increases from 200 to 800 seats, everything looks great. Then you will use the room and receive complaints from the meeting that no one can understand the spoken word, that the people in the back of the room cannot understand the minister or preacher, or that the choir has difficulties due to the accumulation of sound in your area is excessive. Suddenly you will find a new and improved installation and less and less help.
So how can a growing community ensure that its new space is acoustically correct?
Despite the fact that it is always possible to adapt acoustic processing for processing a room after filing complaints, it is much more efficient and cost-effective to take into account the acoustics of the room at the design stage. By adapting the room to an acoustic design, you place treatments such as fiberglass panels wrapped in fabric “where they will fit” due to the construction of existing walls, frescoes, window structures, etc. In addition, the average cost of adapting a large space can be 50% more than if acoustic treatments were integrated into the construction process from the very beginning.
Additional costs are usually associated with a more complex installation process compared to materials. If due attention is paid at the design stage, issues such as HVAC noise, installation size and shape, window layout, ceiling height, and wall and ceiling finishes can be adjusted to help improve sound quality in space.
If you are considering processing at the design stage, you can create a suitable design that supports a much more symmetrical design for acoustic processing, making the room or installation look and acoustic engineers better. The best way to ensure proper handling of the acoustic element in the room is to hire an acoustic consultant at the design stage. The advantage of hiring acoustic consultants is that they have access to several programs that can simulate a room and can offer suggestions for resolving any possible sound problems that may arise.
Conclusion
When working with acoustic consultants, be sure to introduce them to the architects involved in the construction process. The relationship between architects and acoustic engineers is dynamic and vital for the perfect combination of two applications. Poor communication between them can lead to a longer construction process and higher costs for you and your community.