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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China by WSDGFebruary 25th, 2019 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: WSDG Leading global architectural / acoustical design firm WSDG Walters-Storyk Design Group, reports the completion of a world-class Music Production & Education Complex for the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music (ZJCM) in Hangzhou, East China. Ensconced in a recently completed, ultra-modern 8000 sq. ft. two-story building, the new facility features a 3200 sq. ft. Live Room with a 26 ft. high ceiling. One of the world’s largest recording studios dedicated to educational projects, it can host sessions of 100+ member orchestras.  Image Courtesy © WSDG
 Image Courtesy © WSDG Set on the picturesque 100-acre ZJCM campus, the conservatory’s twelve academic departments provide nearly 5000 full-time students with professional educational programs on composition, conducting, vocal and musical instrument performance, recording, and technology. Completed in 2016 the campus includes nine concert halls, 102 rehearsal halls, 842 practice rooms, and six small studios. Led by WSDG Founding Partner John Storyk, and Partners Sergio Molho, Renato Cipriano and Silvia Molho the firm’s 50+ member, creative and technical design team contributed to the collaboration. “A project of this scale requires extremely well coordinated design and technical input,” Cipriano reports. “Our Basel, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany offices developed sophisticated 3D room modeling and electro acoustical surface predictions which were invaluable in establishing an extraordinary acoustic environment for the large live studio.  Image Courtesy © WSDG Equal attention was devoted to the 650 sq. ft. Control Room, which features a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window view into the live room. Our Latin office provided extremely accurate renderings, our US and Brazil team performed brilliantly on overall design and the creation of innovative acoustic solutions. And, our Miami- based Partner/Art Director Silvia Molho made a major aesthetic contribution with her interior design talents.” Cipriano said. “We also developed a noteworthy and cost-effective variable acoustic treatment for the live recording studio,” he adds. “Each of the expansive live room’s four walls was fitted with a 26 foot-long floor-to-ceiling, absorbent curtain hung from heavy-duty, silent, motorized tracks. Deploying these curtains can provide as much as a 50% modification of the room’s average reverberation time,” Cipriano reports.  Image Courtesy © WSDG WSDG Co-Principal Sergio Molho credits the firm’s Guangzhou, China-based representative, Víctor Cañellas as “an invaluable on-site liaison throughout this project. Victor’s exhaustive knowledge of acoustics, studio design, full Room-Within-Room isolation construction issues and, China’s educational criteria were instrumental in keeping this formidable project on track. Systems Integration experts and technology suppliers Digital Media Technology Co. Ltd. (DMT) excelled in the challenging task of assuring flawless connectivity throughout the complex.” Molho adds. “The ZJCM team were ideal clients,” reports WSDG Interior Design partner, Silvia Molho. “They were very accepting of our recommendations, and made decisions in an extremely timely manner. Thanks to their research into our company history they were fully aware of our educational facility design credentials, and they had great faith in our ability.”  Image Courtesy © WSDG “The scale of the live room provided us with an extraordinary canvas for acoustical and aesthetic creativity,” Cipriano adds. “We designed a number of elements that we believe will inspire students, musicians and educators alike. One of our proudest accomplishments was the huge iconic oval ceiling cloud/lighting element. Floating over the live room from a height of 26’, it provides a strikingly effective visual element as well as mood lighting and acoustic treatments. “By incorporating warm, natural wooden acoustic elements and contrasting darker earth colors with lighter shades we established a deeply creative and aesthetically pleasing ambiance throughout the complex,” Molho concludes. “We were committed to providing ZJCM with an outstanding technology package,” says DTM Technical Director, Johnathan Wang. “For the audio system, we recommended the top-level SSL Duality console and PMC QB1-A flagship monitor speakers as an unparalleled sound system. Considering ZJCM’s ‘World Class’ goals for their new studio exquisite décor details and superb acoustics and isolation design were critical. WSDG was our immediate choice. My boss Mr. Clement Choi, was in full agreement. With his enthusiastic support our collaboration began. ZJCM Director, Mr. Huang Xiaodong, Mr. Guo Ming, head of the ZJCM decoration construction team and WSDG’s China representative, Mr. Victor Cañellas, worked closely with us to efficiently resolve all construction issues,” Mr. Wang said.  Image Courtesy © WSDG Commenting on WSDG’s contribution to the complex, ZJCM Deputy Dean Music Engineering Department, Mr. Huang Xiaodong, remarked, “Because this project represents a crucial addition to our campus, we were committed to engaging the most qualified architectural and acoustical design firm. WSDG’s global reputation earned our full confidence. When the studios were completed we invited a number of choirs, musicians, sound engineers, composers and senior members of the Singapore National Orchestra to tour our new facility. Their evaluation of the studio’s acoustic environment was ‘World-Class’. WSDG’s collaboration with our faculty and DMT’s Johnathan Wang, was both efficient and pleasant. They had an exceptional understanding of our goals, and we are confident that their work will contribute to superb educations for our students for many years to come,” Mr. Xiaodong concludes.  Image Courtesy © WSDG
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