Lincoln Way North Wins IASB Award for Excellence in Educational Environmental Design
August 25, 2009
The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), at its Annual Conference, honored the new Lincoln-Way North High School for Excellence in Educational Environmental Design.
DLA Architects, in collaboration with architectural acoustics company Kirkegaard Associates, worked closely with education officials, and design team members, on these state-of-the-art high school facilities in District 210. Kirkegaard Associates held responsibility for the room acoustics, mechanical noise control, and audio video systems design for the 900-seat Auditorium, orchestra/band room, choral, and support spaces, Field House, Competition Gymnasium and Pool area that make up this exceptional 414,000 square foot facility.
A description of the audio/video services provided within the spaces follow:
Auditorium, Band & Choral Room: The auditorium loudspeaker design is based on a permanent left-center-right position and an array of loudspeakers mounted into the front of the orchestra pit rail, giving the ability to position sound sources across the width of the proscenium. Audio design includes a 32-channel mixer, a 16-channel wireless microphone system, production intercom, monitor/page, and hearing assistant systems. The natural acoustics of the auditorium supports symphonic music and amplified sound equally well. Lincoln-Way North is the home of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Band and Choral Rooms are designed for archival recording and playback and are accommodated by recording microphones, a stereo loudspeaker, and playback equipment. The band and choir rooms have natural light and are delightful spaces in which to teach and rehearse. An additional feature of the band room is the adjustable curtains that allows the room to adapt to the program whether it be orchestra or jazz band rehearsals.
Field House: Designed for public address and background music playback, the loudspeaker system is capable of being divided into three zones allowing for announcements for simultaneous events to be delivered to the appropriate zones. Additional audio connection points for wired microphones and playback devices are placed strategically throughout the room.
Competition Gymnasium: Intended for public address and background music playback, the loudspeaker system holds various presets to accommodate the diversity of programming within the space. A CD/Cassette player and AM/FM tuner support audio playback, and additional audio connection points are provided throughout the room.
Pool: To ensure voice intelligibility in this type of reverberant space a pair of passive line array loudspeakers serve the main level while a group of small loudspeakers serve the balcony area. A CD/Cassette player and AM/FM tuner are again included to support audio playback.
Members of Kirkegaard Associates’ project team are: Senior Consultant for room acoustics, Anthony Shou; Consultant, Joanne Chang, for audio/video systems design; and Senior Consultant and Project Manager, Terry Tyson, who held responsibility for mechanical noise and vibration control.
Kirkegaard Associates is one of the world’s leading acoustics design firms providing comprehensive consulting services for clients seeking the highest quality listening environments. The firm consists of 28 individuals offering experience in architectural acoustics, audio/video systems design; electronic media technology, and mechanical noise and vibration control. The company has earned a reputation for excellence in the design of more than 2,500 successful projects which include: theatres, concert halls, opera houses, educational institutions, worship spaces, recording and broadcast studios, and many other acoustically sensitive environments in North and South America, Europe, the Far East and Australia.