Hodgson & Hodgson ensures sound improvement for Norwich's Waterfront |
Norwich's Waterfront continues to offer better facilities to national touring acts and up-and-coming musicians thanks to an upgraded acoustic system installed by Hodgson & Hodgson. The venue, which hosts live music most week nights with club nights at the weekends, is run by the Union of UEA Students and is among the top 500-1000 capacity music venues in the country.
The 'box' layout of the Waterfront, with its low ceiling and hard surfaces, had led to a problem with reverberation of sound around the auditorium. Hodgson & Hodgson was recommended to the venue's management, which took advantage of the company's free acoustic advice service to decide on the best approach. Hodgson & Hodgson identified the cause of the reverberation and carefully calculated the amount of acoustic absorption needed. To meet the Waterfront's requirements for a solution that was durable, cost-effective and fireproof, dB Ceiling Absorber panels were chosen to be fitted to the ceiling to damp acoustic reflections between ceiling and floor.
A marked difference in the sound at the Waterfront was noticed immediately upon installation of the panels, as Technical Manager Nic Morris confirmed: "The products have reduced reverberation considerably. Bands and engineers had previously found it difficult to carry out sound checks because of the reverberations in the empty room. The acoustic damping more accurately simulates a room with people in it." Morris was also impressed with the actual installation: "Hodgson & Hodgson had to work to our very tight schedule, yet managed to complete the job cleanly, efficiently and professionally. I am very happy with the results."
dB Ceiling Absorbers are decorative ceiling panels made from sound-absorbing MelaTech foam, covered with a high-quality acoustically transparent fabric. Designed primarily to reduce reverberant noise by improving acoustic absorption, they can also improve the thermal insulation of a building and represent an effective, economic alternative to a full suspended acoustic ceiling. Their decorative appearance means they can also be used to create a feature that dramatically enhances the interior design of a space.
With nine operating sites within the UK, Hodgson & Hodgson provides high quality thermal and acoustic consultancy to a wide range of clients and offers a total design, manufacture and installation service.
