Robert S. Berens
Principal
Acentech provided acoustics, audiovisual, and telecommunications consulting for Goody Clancy’s transformation of Martin Hall, a historic biology building at Swarthmore College. The project reimagined the facility as an interdisciplinary hub for the Computer Science and Film & Media Studies departments, including a new Media Center designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation across campus. The renovation included 14,000 SF of renovated space and a 34,000-SF addition.
Our acoustics team developed recommendations for classrooms, collaboration spaces, and common areas, with specialized attention to background noise levels and room acoustics of the film screening room, production studio, recording and editing suites, and multimedia teaching spaces. We also addressed critical sound isolation requirements for these spaces as well as classrooms and offices, including the design of a sound masking system to ensure speech privacy between faculty offices and common spaces.
Acentech’s telecommunications consultants designed a robust structured cabling and wireless infrastructure to support audiovisual systems, security, energy management, and building management technologies throughout the facility. We designed redundant fiber connections to cross-connect Martin Hall to Swarthmore’s existing main server rooms, and provided a dedicated server room for the Computer Science department. Acentech’s audiovisual team designed advanced technology systems for the new Media Center as well as seminar rooms, conference rooms, research labs, computer labs, and multimedia classrooms, creating flexible, high-performance learning and collaboration environments.
Designed to meet the Living Building Challenge Core criteria, the renewed Martin Hall reflects Swarthmore College’s commitment to sustainability, interdisciplinary learning, and forward-thinking campus design.
