In 2006, Acentech collaborated with Wilson Butler Architects on a master plan for Boston University’s Center of Fine Arts. We determined criteria for noise control, sound isolation and room acoustics for classrooms, practice rooms and performing halls and provided conceptual solutions for how to achieve these criteria within the design context envisioned by the architect.

The first phase of the plan was completed in 2009 and consisted of the design and construction of a limited number of stick-built teaching/rehearsal rooms for the school’s Percussion Department. The university planned to acquire and install 120 modular practice rooms, the largest known acquisition of modular practice rooms in the US. However, this part of the project involved numerous challenges, including the rooms’ integration in the existing architectural setting. The university’s aspiration to acquire a product that would stand the test of time relative to current and future music practice trends (e.g. innovative technology capabilities like built-in recording or virtual acoustics) and even the manufacturing plants’ ability to produce, deliver and install the large order in a timely fashion was another hurdle to overcome.

Acentech, the architect and university representatives visited several manufacturers of modular practice rooms to better understand the different products available on the market and the manufacturing capabilities. Acentech helped define the acoustical criteria for these products, worked with the manufacturer (Wenger Corporation) and proposed additional testing to assess the acoustical performance of the products. Once a product was selected, we assisted the architect with coordinating the integration of the systems in the base building relative to their acoustical performance.