Already eliciting talk of awards for its architecture, the new Music Centre at Watford Grammar School is equally impressive for its well-thought lighting and acoustical systems. In addition to sounding perfect, thanks to Arup Acoustics, the performers at the Centre also look great, thanks to the ETC lighting and controls installed by Lighting Logic.Designed by Tim Ronalds Architects, and popularly dubbed “The Ice Cube,” the centre looks like a beautiful green translucent cube. The lofty interior foyer – which is itself ideal for impromptu music and choral rehearsals -- leads to the building’s centrepiece, a full-size orchestral rehearsal hall including 250 fixed seats for the audience.
Raf Orlowski, director at Arup Acoustics, says: “The new Music Centre at Watford Grammar School provides a spacious and well-lit performance and rehearsal space which can accommodate a full orchestra together with an audience, and enables pupils to play in first class conditions. The acoustics of the hall have been finely tuned to provide ample reverberation for classical music while at the same time accommodating other genres of music for which the acoustics can be adjusted using moveable acoustic drapes. There are numerous practice rooms of various shapes and sizes and the whole building has a light and airy feel, making it a delight for teachers and pupils alike.”
Involved in installing a lighting system to ensure the musicians looked as good as they sounded was Lighting Logic. Sales director Mick Cocker says: “The system consisted of ETC Unison dimmers and programming panels in the Recital Hall, along with powder coated white Source Four luminaires for the platform and house lighting. ETC’s Source Four is a high efficiency fixture specifically designed for theatrical use and is the world’s most popular theatrical luminaire, so students can be assured of the best quality lighting possible.”
Assistant head John Griffiths says: “We have an excellent music department, with several top class musicians – including French horn player David Pyatt – having studied here. We wanted to improve the music facilities as part of a rolling programme of improvements to the school, but costs looked as if they were prohibitive. Luckily, the local education authority also decided they needed a new home as part of their service and, four years ago, agreed to share the cost. The results in terms of both sound and light have been fantastic – better than anything we could have dreamt of.”
The lower ground floor of the building, which has been shortlisted for a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award, contains two large music rehearsal and teaching spaces with a central control room so that recordings can be made; there are also two formal music classrooms. Practice rooms and ensemble rooms of various sizes are located mainly on the first and second floors with additional ones on the lower ground floor and a large percussion room on the ground floor.
“So far,” concludes John Griffiths, “we have only held our own school performances, but the Music Centre has already been booked by the BBC for recordings of a music reality show, Maestro.”
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