The Soundscape of Theaters

The goal of this study is to intelligently design theater buildings using the soundscape method to provide context for acoustical prioritization and design of the systems and spaces. When one thinks about the soundscape of theater, one might think about the actual theater space; the stage and audience area. But theater buildings have many more uses and inhabitants than just the performers and audience. Using the Soundscape method, we will examine cases from several theaters. By looking at the program, the users, and identifying various acoustic itineraries of the inhabitants, as well as their acoustic calendars, one can begin to understand the complex way theaters are inhabited. There are a multitude of users with different goals and priorities, and translating these potentially competing priorities into an effective design for not just the main theater space, but for other spaces as well, from the lobby, green rooms and dressing rooms, corridors, scene shop, welding shop and even the loading dock is a challenge and an opportunity for creative design. The soundscape method provides a tool to holistically analyze and explore a space that will inform design decisions about the acoustical prioritization of each of the spaces contained within.