Franklin & Marshall College
Roschel Performing Arts Center
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Project Type: Renovation
Seat Count: 305
Opening: 2012
AD Scope: Acoustics, Room Design AssistanceAn intimate performance space, the Schnader Theatre seats 305 and has excellent sightlines and backstage facilities. As the primary performance space in the Center, this space serves as the primary venue for theatre performances on the campus. Less than optimal speech intelligibility created a significant impediment for student performers particularly when staging performances of Shakespeare. We addressed issues to assist the clarity of spoken word with specific focus on:
• Competing sounds from HVAC, electrical & exterior sources
• Detrimental sound reflections
A noise inventory of theatre equipment that had been interfering with speech intelligibility
Recommendations included:
• Eliminating noise from a ventilation fan
• Replacing existing wood paneling from face of cross aisle wall with full-spectrum sound-diffusing panels
• Adding sound absorbing panels
