Richardson Memorial Hall at Tulane University in New Orleans is slated for an addition and historic renovation. The project will be carried out in collaboration between Acentech, a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary acoustics, audiovisual systems design, and vibration consulting firm, and KieranTimberlake, an award-winning architecture firm. Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, APC served as the associate architect on the project.
Designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the 30,000-square-foot addition and renovation of Richardson Memorial Hall will make it a model learning environment that fosters innovation and creativity, while incorporating sustainable practices and emerging technologies within an historic structure. Acentech’s services include architectural acoustics, mechanical system noise and vibration control, and information technology (IT) infrastructure consulting for the historic building, which is the home of Tulane’s School of Architecture.
Built in 1908, Richardson Memorial Hall is a 50,000-square-foot, five-story brick and limestone building, prominently situated on a quad near a main entrance to the campus. The historic building did not originally incorporate air conditioning, and the later addition of air conditioning equipment compromised many of the school’s sound sensitive spaces. With this complete interior renovation, the building will be repositioned as a modern school of architecture with greatly improved acoustics. Acentech’s acoustics scope includes multi-purpose spaces, classrooms, library, resource center, fabrication shop, and offices.
To bring this venerable building into its second century of service, Acentech is providing comprehensive planning and design of the wireless local area network (WLAN) an IT system. Acentech's radio frequency predictive modeling software enables real simulation of access points and client traffic to forecast both the amount of bandwidth and inherent limitations of the WLAN. This provides realistic expectations for the faculty and staff, as the school uses bandwidth intensive software for graphics, computer-aided design, three-dimensional modeling, imaging, and renderings.
The project includes sound isolation for the building facade, related to noise from an existing cooling tower atop the adjacent parking garage, as well as sound isolation of the architectural studios from the cooling tower.
For more on acoustics, see Febuary's Field Notes about auditory design here, and for more on educational facilities, look out for the March issue, themed "The Education of Design."
