Arup celebrates opening of five arts and culture facilities

New York – Arup, a multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm, celebrated the opening of The Elstein Center for Music and Art in Zichron, Israel; Musikkens Hus Nordjylland North Jutland House of Music in Aalborg, Denmark; The Virginia Tech Center for the Arts in Blacksburg, Va.; The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario; and the Francine and Sterling Clark Art Museum in Williamstown, Mass.

“Arup’s focus on tailoring design to our clients’ specific needs, informed by our global experience and knowledge, and leading edge technology for both the design and delivery, defines our unique approach,” said Raj Patel, principal. “Each design element is considered in detail, and as part of an integrated whole, to shape buildings that are specific to the current and future needs of their communities, artists, audiences and institutions, and provide life-changing experiences for artists and audiences alike.”

The firm’s SoundLab technology allows them to explore and experience spaces aurally and visually in the design phase, in a collaborative holistic manner with their design teams, clients and artists, to optimize and create extraordinary experiences for audiences and performers.

Elstein Center for Music and Art (ELMA), Alon and Erez Halls, Zichron Ya’akov, Israel — Arup provided acoustical, audio-visual, and theatre consultancy services for Alon Hall, a 450-seat acoustic recital venue and Erez Hall, a 150-seat flexible performance space. The two auditoria form the performing arts component of a facility dedicated to the creation and support of local art in Israel with an international reach.  With acoustical excellence as a client goal from the outset, Alon Hall is one of the best acoustical recital spaces in the world, with flexibility to adapt acoustics for contemporary musical forms. Arup collaborated with Ranni Ziss Architects, Rechter Architects, Lea Mahler Design Atelier, and Boyce Nemec Designs.

Musikkens Hus Nordjylland North Jutland House of Music, Aalborg, Denmark — Originally selected by the City of Aalborg, Denmark to be the acoustics and theatre design and planning consultants, Arup has supported architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au from the project’s outset, working closely on the building program, the design of the 1,300-seat concert hall, and the other performance, rehearsal, and education spaces.

Acoustic and visual intimacy, with excitement, was a core goal of the project, driving the dynamic audience distribution and design of the audience chamber. The Musikkens Hus is designed for ultimate quiet in order to provide an extremely enjoyable environment for making and listening to music, and allowing musicians the widest possible range of expression and dynamics.

Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. — Selected by Virginia Tech to be the acoustics and performance audio and visual consultant, Arup worked closely with architect Snøhetta from the outset of the project to define the building program to deliver a project specifically suited to the University’s needs. The centerpieces of the project are the dedicated 1,300-seat concert hall and the “Living Labs” that bring together research, creation and performance under one roof. Collectively these spaces provide the local community, students, faculty and region with a world class center for performing arts and technology center.

The unique “Create Cube” envisioned as a design addition by Arup, offers one of the most advances spaces for 3D sound and visualization in the world.

Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario — Arup provided acoustics and audiovisual consulting services for the Isabel Bader Centre, whose program includes a 550-seat performance hall, a large flat-floor music rehearsal room, a blackbox studio theater, percussion practice rooms, a film screening room, a production studio, film editing suites, an art gallery and teaching seminar rooms that support the Queen’s University drama, film, music and art departments.

The Francine and Sterling Clark Art Museum. Williamstown, Mass. — Arup has worked in close collaboration with The Clark, architecture firms Tadao Ando, Selldorf Architects, and Gensler, for more than 10 years providing acoustics, audio-visual, façade engineering, integrated daylighting design and analysis, architectural lighting, landscape lighting design, and IT consulting on all aspects of its 140-acre master plan reconfiguration and renovation. Arup’s lighting and façade engineering designs were pivotal in realizing the exceptional gallery spaces.