Drexel University — LeBow College of Business

Some key features of the building include a central triangular multi-storey atrium, a Bloomberg Terminal Trading Room, a 300-seat auditorium, 160-seat multipurpose space, 100-seat lecture hall, classrooms, studios, collaboration rooms, group study rooms, a behavioral lab, meeting rooms, faculty offices, a Dean’s Suite and a student lounge.

Acentech collaborated with Voith & MacTavish Architects to provide consulting services associated with interior room acoustics, sound isolation, mechanical system noise control, as well as audiovisual consulting for all the critical spaces.

Specifically, the acoustical design of the atrium was aimed at achieving conditions suitable for a pass-through /pseudo-meeting area and that minimizes sound-build-up generated by patron activity during large gatherings. We designed the teaching spaces to promote good speech intelligibility via natural acoustics, and also allow the sufficiently ‘dry’ conditions necessary for recording and playback. In the studios, our recommendations were focused on appropriate surface finishes, low background noise levels and constructions that provide high levels of sound isolation. In the Dean’s Suite and faculty offices we concentrated on achieving good levels of acoustical privacy.

Acentech also included distributed audio video systems in most of the teaching spaces to minimize spatial requirements and provide for operational flexibility, with specialized designs in the Bloomberg Terminal Trading Room and studios. The meeting rooms and lounge support audiovisual presentation and collaboration activities. The atrium (including the adjacent pre-function space) and the multipurpose space have systems that can be used for large presentations as well as social functions. Students can reserve rooms via an electronic scheduling system that interfaces with the audio video control system for access management. University communications are supported by several digital signage displays throughout the building.