Holcomb Auditorium of LifeWay
Glorieta Conference Center
Glorieta, New Mexico
Project Type: Renovation
Seat Count: 2,800
Original Construction: 1952
A/V Installation: Electromedia, Aurora, CO
AD Scope: Acoustics & Audio
Originally built in 1952, the LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had been experiencing difficulty with the quality of sound amplification within the sanctuary. The existing sound system was past its lifecycle, and the interaction with the room acoustics resulted in compromised speech intelligibility and poor music quality.
The new sound system was designed to be installed in three phases as finances became available. The first phase incorporated the installation of a center cluster speaker system coupled with delay loudspeakers. The second phase added left and right loudspeaker clusters, sub bass and stage lip loudspeakers to the system. The third phase upgraded input wiring and patch panel systems. To insure a coordinated design approach, all speaker elements were designed at one time so that any new power systems, conduit, equipment rack space, etc. were developed to handle the long-term plans.
One of the most significant acoustical problems was a flutter echo, audible in the forestage area. We developed a computer model to verify the source of the audible flutter echoes in this area. The three-dimensional model is used with our IMAGES acoustical analysis program, written in-house. The output of the computer model was compared with the measurements taken in the forestage area to verify the accuracy of the model.
Once the computer model was verified, the output of the IMAGES program allowed us to study the source of the flutter echo and to develop a practical solution. Our solution was integrated into the visual aesthetics design of the ceiling and did not require the use of any sound absorbing materials, which would have compromised the ensemble hearing conditions for musicians located in the forestage area.
