• Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra unveils new sound

• October 8, 2007

The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Auditorium, home to the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO), passed muster at its September 29, 2007 season opening. Standing tall after its $1,000,000 renovation, the 2,250-seat hall, boasts a new acoustic shell, new side “cheek” walls, and new acoustic panels above the stage and musicians.

Initially built in the 1960’s as a multi-purpose hall, the orchestra shell was relatively thin which tended to dilute the reverberation time throughout the hall. To address this issue, Chicago-based architectural acoustics firm, Kirkegaard Associates, designed a new shell with wall panels approximately 5” thick and 2 ½” thick panels in the shell ceiling. As a result of this new “mass,” the structure is now able to support and reflect all of the low and high registers producing a rich, full sound which can be heard by the musicians, and projected to the audience. For additional flexibility and to accommodate different size ensembles, the angles of the walls can be adjusted and the ceiling is also capable of being raised and tilted.

The cheek walls in the auditorium seating area contain five (5) layers of drywall and have been designed to distribute sound evenly across the main floor. Couple this with the shell side walls, and continuity in the pattern of sound reflections is apparent throughout the space. Opening night was met with enthusiasm and praise.

Markand Thakar, Music Director of the DSSO, says, “The new shell is simply magnificent. It opens up the room to encompass the orchestra as well as the audience; it sends our sounds reverberating throughout the hall, and allows our audience to hear us with a presence heretofore unimaginable. And our musicians can now hear each other, which presents a tremendous opportunity for us to grow as an ensemble. Thank you Larry and friends!”

Andrew Berryhill, Executive Director of the DSSO is delighted. “It was a pleasure to work with the entire Kirkegaard team. From the very beginning of the project they listened carefully to what we needed, and then brought all the options to the table for our consideration. From there we all focused on what was best for us and then worked our plan. The end result has been spectacular.”

”Pamela Clements, project manager for Kirkegaard Associates, is pleased with the outcome too. “It has been a pleasure to work with so many dedicated people throughout this project and the results are amazing. The combined effect is that the shell and auditorium are now working together to provide a much improved acoustic performance.”

The project team for Kirkegaard Associates was led by Larry Kirkegaard, President and Principal Acoustician; Pamela Clements, Project Manager and Acoustics Consultant and Senior Consultant, Miguel Kertsman, for diagnostics and acoustic tuning.