The new Brown Center is a visual and performing arts facility for the Maryland Institute College of Art and the surrounding city of Baltimore.

The 550-seat multi-use space is adaptable for different uses such as: lectures, film, multimedia and video presentations and concerts. Because of this, both speech intelligibility and adequate reverberation for concerts were necessary. These are often conflicting acoustical goals. To accomplish this, AD recommended an even pattern of sound-absorptive and sound-reflective room finishes. An attractive panel system was used to provide a continuous finish, regardless of acoustical properties.

A left-center-right surround system meets the cinematic needs of the space. The speakers are located behind the projection screen for accurate sound imaging. They are on motorized winches so they can be flown out of sight when the screen is not in use.

The video system supports single slide projection, side-by-side slides and video projection. The control booth integrates the slide projectors and video projectors by having them share a common lift to switch easily from one application to the next.

The success of the team in the auditorium prompted AD’s involvement in other spaces throughout the building, including a 70-seat lecture hall and numerous sound and video recording spaces. Sound isolation was a crucial goal for the facility, because many noise critical spaces are located directly next to one another.

AD also worked closely with the mechanical engineer, James Posey Associates, to carefully design low-noise HVAC systems for the auditorium and auxiliary classroom and studio facilities.