Cambridge-based Acentech’s Studio A consulting group has completed a project for a new academic building at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J.
Studio A provided acoustics, audiovisual systems and technology consulting for the Marion Beckelew Cullen Center, the first new building on the music school’s campus in nearly four decades.
Designed by KSS Architects, the Cullen Center houses the 3,000-square-foot Hillman Performance and Rehearsal Hall, a large lobby, a green room and three flexibly configured classrooms for a wide range of academic and choral uses. The two wings converge into a light-filled lobby available for receptions. The new LEED Silver-certified building supports Westminster’s growth and broadening curriculum.
“Studio A’s design of Hillman Hall provides our students and faculty with an acoustically exceptional space that supports a variety of musical uses,” Marshall Onofrio, interim dean of Westminster Choir College, said in a statement. “The technology infrastructure in the hall enables us to invite guest artists to instruct classes by video, as well as stream our concerts live to the web. We look forward to utilizing the acoustical versatility of this space to share Westminster’s program with aspiring musicians around the world.”
A focal point of Studio A’s acoustics recommendations, the Hillman Performance Hall can accommodate a full concert choir of 220 singers. The hall also easily supports a variety of performance group sizes, with innovative features such as overhead reflector clusters that support communication within the room.
Studio A designed audiovisual systems for the Cullen Center, including classroom presentation systems that support choral recording, SmartBoard technology and a large two-projector system designed for Hillman Performance Hall. That system has a control booth, projectors enclosed in stowaway housings, a ceiling microphone system for digital recording and an instructor lectern with touch panel control system.
To satisfy Westminster’s requirement for high-speed telecom services to broadcast music performances, Acentech designed a 10G cabling infrastructure and wireless network that supports student and faculty “bring your own device” demands, with capacity for three wireless devices per person.
Studio A is a specialized consulting group of Acentech dedicated to providing world-class acoustical, audiovisual systems design, and vibration control for the performing arts.
