Liberty High School Performing Arts Center

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided acoustical consultation and audio-visual system design and the Performing Arts Center expansion to Liberty High School.

This was an extensive design project encompassing the 800 seat Auditorium, Scene Shop, divisible Band Room, Orchestra Classroom, Vocal Classroom, Debate Classroom and Dressing Room, Forensics Classroom and Green Room, two Large Practice Rooms, four Medium Practice Rooms, 4 Small Practice Rooms, the Performing Arts Center Offices, Administration Offices, Lobby and the Public Restrooms.

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Acoustical Consulting
• Audio-Visual System Design
• Construction Administration
• System Commissioning

Project Highlights:

State-of the art audio system in the auditorium, including Left/Center/Right arrangement of loudspeakers arrays and a Dante digital audio system. Multiple pan-tilt-zoom cameras for video distribution to the classrooms and the lobby.

Location: Liberty, MO
Facilities: Education
Client: Hollis+Miller Architects
Designer: Edouard Charland, John Hodgson

University of Missouri Kansas City Performing Arts Center & Music Hall

AVANT ACOUSTICS designers worked with Helix Architecture and leadership from the UMKC Conservatory to assist with the acoustical and audio-visual aspects of Grant Hall on the main campus in Kansas City, Missouri. When designing the back of house or stage area, there are many challenges to get incoming and outgoing sound perfect, because there are many moving parts backstage, curtains, scene changers, various lights and other equipment that requires design coordination between all of the subcontractors and the lead architect.

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Acoustical Consulting
• Sound and Video System Design
• Construction Administration
• System Commissioning

Project Highlights:

Included in this project were the Olson Center of the Performing Arts  Instrumental Rehearsal Room and Practice Rooms as well as the Grant Hall Multipurpose Theater. Special attention was given to the privacy of the practice rooms, so that musicians can hear only themselves and not disrupt others or be disrupted themselves.

Location: Kansas City, MO
Facilities: Higher Education / Performing Arts
Client: Helix Architects
Designer: John Hodgson, Andrew VonFeldt, David Wetzel

Von Braun Center Concert Hall

The renovation of the 2,000-seat Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center included a new entrance lobby, a new sound system, and upgrades to interior materials and mechanical equipment. 

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Room acoustics consultation for the auditorium and lobby area
• Mechanical noise control analysis and recommendations
• Sound reinforcement system design
• On-site system commissioning, including operator training and assistance during the first use

Project Highlights:

AVANT ACOUSTICS carefully crafted the design of the new loudspeaker cluster around the existing perforated opening in the proscenium, creating even coverage, yet maintaining the aesthetics of the space. 

The front end of the sound system is a digital mixing console that utilizes a digital audio snake to transport audio from the stage to the sound booth in the seats.  This configuration minimized the installation impact of the new system on the existing space and allows for flexible routing and patching for the end user. 

Location: Huntsville, AL
Facilities: Concert Hall
Client: Matheny Goldmon Architecture
Designer: Robert G. Ledo

Capitol Federal Amphitheater

Just outside Wichita, this new $1.6 million, 10,000-seat amphitheater draws large crowds with its summertime concerts. It is also a popular spot for performing arts, weddings, and other events. AVANT worked with LK Architecture to make this project a success!

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Architectural acoustics consultation

Project Highlights:

AVANT ACOUSTICS worked closely with the design team to find solutions that both met the aesthetic goals of the project and provided acoustical benefit.  Multiple design iterations and options were analyzed and the pros and cons of each were outlined so that the owner was able to make informed design choices.  Recommendations included:

• Modifications to geometry of the canopy,
• Shaping of the panels on the sides of the stage, and
• The configuration of the back wall of the amphitheater.

Location: Andover, Kansas
Facilities: Amphitheater
Client: LK Architecture
Designer: Andrew J. VonFeldt

Rehearsal Space Acoustics

This renovation project at North Platte Community College included 1,200 square feet of rehearsal space, as well as adjacent practice rooms.

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Room acoustics consultation
• Architectural and mechanical/electric noise control

Project Highlights:

In the rehearsal room, AVANT improved the room acoustics, creating a room with a balanced reverberation time by using a combination of ceiling materials, including pyramidal diffusers, as well as gypsum board and mineral fiber ceiling tiles. The acoustical performance of the room can be adjusted as tunable, wall-mounted acoustical panels can be changed from sound-absorbing to sound-diffusing by simply pulling a lever at the bottom of each panel.

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided balanced reverberation time in the practice rooms using wall-mounted sound-absorbing panels tuned to absorb more sound at low frequencies and less at the high frequencies. This allows for clarity in the high frequencies, while controlling overall volume.

Finally, AVANT ensured the partition constructions between the rehearsal room, practice rooms, and adjacent offices and other spaces included adequate insulation to prevent noise disturbances.

Location: North Platte, NE
Facilities: Music Rehearsal Space, Practice Rooms
Client: Wilkins Architecture Design Planning
Designer: Emily G. Jaumard

KU Lied Center

The Lied Center of Kansas is one of the premiere performing arts venues in the region. It hosts a variety of music and dance performances, as well as major campus and community events. AVANT ACOUSTICS worked on the multi-purpose event space addition.

AVANT ACOUSTICS provided the following services:

• Room acoustics consultation
• Architectural and mechanical/electrical noise control

Project Highlights:

AVANT ACOUSTICS consulted on the design of the main lobby and the Lied Center Pavilion to ensure proper acoustical characteristics for musical performances and lectures. The Pavilion is a truly multipurpose space that was designed with specific intent to provide outstanding acoustics for smaller musical recitals.

One acoustical challenge in the space was an exterior glass curtain wall that formed the back wall of the room. Particular attention was given to this construction for proper acoustic room shaping and noise control.

Location: Lawrence, KS
Facilities: Multipurpose Event Space
Client: Helix Architecture + Design
Designer: