AN ENHANCED ACCOUSTIC EXPERIENCE

Roy Thomson Hall is in downtown Toronto in the Entertainment District. It is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and presents a wide variety of musical and educational programming as well as being a main venue for TIFF.

In 2002 the concert hall underwent an Enhancement Project to improve the audience experience as well as the acoustics. The interior volume of Roy Thomson Hall's auditorium was reduced by installing massive hardwood maple bulkheads which were rigged by JOEL Rigging at balcony level in the auditorium's upper chamber on the side and rear walls.

JOEL Rigging also provided installation of two adjustable acoustic canopies, one circular and one crescent-shaped which now provide better on-stage communication among musicians and provide audience members seated in all parts of the auditorium a more accurate representation of the performance taking place on stage. The two canopies are suspended over the house and stage and can be moved up and down independently according to the acoustical requirement of the performance.

The circular canopy is arranged in a spectacular "sunburst" design resembling a colossal chandelier and is suspended towards the centre of the auditorium. Its weight is 38 tons (76,000 lbs.) and has a moveable range of 30 to 50 feet for performance sittings - lowered to create more intimacy for a song recital and raised for full orchestra and chorus. The crescent-shaped canopy, positioned over the stage area, can be lowered as far as the choir loft, and has a weight of 10.5 tons (21,000 lbs.).

Retractable sound absorbent banners are incorporated directly into the new wooden bulkheads around the auditorium's perimeter. The banners, which can be raised and lowered automatically to allow for customized performance settings, have the capacity to control and dampen reverberation during electronically amplified events.

Although this was the least visible component of the project, this work was crucial to the overall success of the enhancement project. The operation of mechanical systems, including heating, ventilation, lighting and air conditioning, were isolated from the building structure. Structural modifications were made to ensure that sound from the lobbies and the physical plant is inaudible inside the auditorium.
ref: wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Thomson_Hall

Visit this site soon for project updates.