Basic characteristics

Sloped Floors
Level terraces for each row of seating, help provide the proper sightlines

Fixed Seats
Typically, fixed seats with tilting upholstered seat and back, integral or tablet arm
are provided

Special Lighting
Front lighting, foot lighting, spot lights, follow spot lights, beam lights, and flood
lights, projection room with manual and programmable lighting controls, space for
the spot light operator

Special Acoustical Design
For clear hearing of performances and presentations

HVAC
The recommended system is ducted supply through floor vents with ducted ceiling
return air vents in auditorium and lobby. In other spaces, ducted ceiling supply
with return air ceiling plenum
Structure & Construction

The envelope design for auditorium is primarily based on acoustical requirements.
Walls therefore, must be specified to prevent sound penetration from outside

Roof spans are large, and are typically provided with Trusses/Girders with thin
roofing sheets

The requirement of acoustical shape does not match with the roof profile needed
for efficient roof design. Hence most auditoria have an outer structural/envelope
roof and an inner acoustical false ceiling

Finishes (floors, walls, ceilings, doors/vestibules, chairs, stages, need to be
designed with a view for the desired sound quality

Fire-resistance and fighting of the construction and finish materials

Evacuation considerations

Accessibility considerations

PROSCENIUM OPEN / THRUST ARENA
Types

STADTTHEATER, GELSENKIRCHEN
PROSCENIUM
Types

ELIZABETHAN PLAYHOUSE
OPEN
Types

NATIONAL ARTS CENTER, OTTAWA
OPEN
Types

WELLINGTON TOWN HALL, NEW ZEALAND
ARENA
Types

WATERFRONT HALL, BELFAST
ARENA
Types

FESTSPIELHAUS, BAYREUTH
Orchestra Pits


Motion picture theaters represent an
exclusively single purpose auditorium

The size of hall depends on the
number of spectators-previously
about 1000 to 1200 but now reduced
to about 150 to 300 now in the era of
multiple theatres in the same
buildings (Multiplexes)

These theaters should have a
relatively short RT as the Cinema
includes both speech & music



Motion Picture Theatres
Screen

Screen size relative to auditorium size
is important.

A guideline is a screen width that gives
a subtended angle of 45-50 for a
viewer situated two-thirds of the way
back from the screen.
Screen rake

With stadium seating, raking the screen may be beneficial
Each 1 rake gives 2 improvement in reflected light angle
A rake of more than 5 is not recommended.

Proscenium openings include the fore-stage and access to the stage
Side wings may also include staircases for easy access to the catwalk and light
controls above
Proscenium Types
Schematics Visual lines
Schematics Visual lines
Schematics
Balcony Design
Balcony Design
Balcony Design
.

There must be adequate loudness in all parts of the auditorium

Uniform distribution of sound

The room must maintain optimum reverberation characteristics

Free from acoustical defects - foci of sound, echoes, shadows, resonance and
external noise
Sound Desirables
Absorption coefficient

=I/Ii

= absorption coefficient
I = sound power intensity absorbed (w/cm2)
Ii = sound power impinging on material (w/cm2)

total absorption is 1.0
Sound Absorption
Material Acoustical Frequency (Hz)
125 250 500 1000 2000 4000
Concrete/Brick 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03
Glass 0.19 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.03 0.02
Plasterboard 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.08 0.04 0.02
Plywood 0.45 0.25 0.13 0.11 0.10 0.09
Carpet 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.35 0.50 0.60
Curtains 0.05 0.12 0.25 0.35 0.40 0.45
Acoustical Board 0.25 0.45 0.80 0.90 0.90 0.90
Sound Absorption
Schematics - HVAC