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Historic Landmark Achieves Modern Acoustics Without Altering Original Features

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Modernising Acoustics While Preserving an Historic Landmark

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Built EnvironmentBuilt Environment

Industry

Multi-Use Event Center

Location

France

Working with one of the world’s largest, oldest financial institutions, best known for its investment banking, asset management, private banking, and private wealth management services, Trinity AWN took on a high-profile architectural acoustics project in Paris, France in September 2016. The 17th century landmark structure, located in Paris’ historic Place Vendome, was originally purchased by the client in 1916 to serve as its French headquarters. Over the years, the space has been shared with the French Ministry of Justice, Hotel Ritz, Cartier, and IBM. In 1993, a full-scale renovation was performed to modernize the building, while preserving its historical grandeur.

Prior to the assignment, AWN had worked with the client on a project in Dublin, Ireland. Meanwhile, the local architect selected to perform the Paris work had also recently worked with AWN and brought them in to assist. The contract was twofold: 1) convert the ground floor executive lounge into a private meeting room suitable for video conferences, 2) convert the ground floor grand banquet hall from a trading “bullpen” into a conference venue suitable for large presentations and client events – all without breaching historical protections

Challenge

Historical protections characterize the greatest scope of challenges faced by the design team in accomplishing the objectives. Virtually everything about the building envelope had to remain unaltered, including existing finishes, plastering, timber, tile, stone, room dimensions, and other structural details.

The banquet hall featured a high ceiling and reflective wall finishes that were not conducive to good acoustics. The design had to accommodate several potential uses, including dining, stage presentations, and auditorium-style seating, with an audio-visual (AV) system installed for music and spoken word events. As well, air-conditioning (AC) was a problem, as a false ceiling would not be allowed in the hall; the AC would have to operate on high-velocity nozzles, creating an added noise risk.

The old executive lounge, which would be converted into a private meeting room, was located directly below the kitchen. Foot traffic from above could be heard below, as well as general noise from kitchen activities and plumbing. The space was also located directly next to the main lobby entrance, creating further challenges, given the original walls presented a mix of glass, plasterboard, and some joinery elements, much of which could not be changed per historical protections.

Lastly, AV equipment would be installed for video conferences and small group presentations, an added consideration for final design.

Solutions

AWN consultants conducted sound studies of both spaces, constructing 3D acoustical models to benchmark current conditions against potential solutions. Study topics included airborne sound, impact sound, reverberation times (RTs), sound between spaces, surface penetrations, and sound decay based on room volume, surface areas, material finish out and degrees of occupancy.

In the banquet hall, AWN aimed to accommodate both spoken word and music, setting RT targets within acceptable parameters for quality acoustic performance. Hall floors were carpeted, and wall curtains were hung. Other acoustically absorptive finishes, such as wall panels and suspended ceiling treatments, were added. A specialized AV system, featuring highly configurable line array speakers for good audio coverage and minimal reflections was also installed and tested.

In the converted lounge area, new plasterboard walls, double-glazed screening, and solid-core doors with perimeter acoustic seals were installed without disrupting protected surfaces. A new suspended plasterboard ceiling was hung below the slab. The subfloor in the kitchen was replaced to reduce impact sound. Kitchen drainage pipes were rerouted through the historic floor and acoustically insulated to prevent noise transfer

Services Performed

The Trinity AWN team partnered with the local architect to upgrade the hall and lobby areas into a world-class conference venue and private meeting suite using a combination of proven acoustical science and creative re-imagining of the historic space.

Results

By August 2017, the project was completed. Since then, the client has been using both spaces as intended without issue. The converted meeting space affords privacy with excellent audio quality for virtual conferences. The former banquet hall now serves as the on-premises venue for all manner of events, with fully controllable AV to match music and spoken word purposes alike. The need to rent event space off-site has been eliminated. In all, AWN proved more than capable of addressing a very challenging environment in a world-class setting, creatively, pragmatically, and up to client expectations.