|
Contact: Susette Hunter
Acoustic upgrades underway at the BJCC Arena
Date: May 26, 2009
The Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex recently began installation of acoustic panels in the BJCC Arena – a $570,000 project that will dramatically improve the event experience at the 18,000-seat venue.
B&C Construction along with subcontractor Chicago Flyhouse, a company that specializes in acoustic panel installation, will attach 119,000 square feet of material in the ceiling of the Arena over the summer, with completion set for early August.
“This approach is one that has been used by a number of venues of a similar age as the BJCC Arena,” said Jack Fields, BJCC executive director. “It is proven technology that takes a huge step toward providing us with the best sound experience available at arenas today.”
In April of 2008 the BJCC commissioned the firm of Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon and Williams, Inc (WJHW) to perform acoustic testing of the Arena and make recommendations for improving the acoustic environment. WJHW specializes in planning acoustics for large sporting arenas, high-tech educational learning environments, high-end performance arts and civic and convention facilities.
The firm’s study revealed that the “boomy” quality of the Arena can be attributed to excessive low frequencies and low frequency reverberation times that are longer than that of higher frequencies. WJHW produced a prioritized list of acoustic treatments, and the Arena Acoustical Baffle System project was formulated to provide the greatest acoustical performance improvement for the dollars invested.
Tad Snider, IT Director at the BJCC, said the upgrades will reduce reverberation and improve the intelligibility of speech. “Everything from a rock concert to a basketball game to a graduation ceremony will sound better,” he said.
BJCC Sales and Marketing Director Susette Hunter said in addition to improving the sound for patrons, the upgrades will help her department entice promoters to bring new events to the BJCC Arena, which is the state’s largest event venue.
For more information about the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, go to www.bjcc.org.
# # # #
|
