Architectural customized design for variable acoustics in a Multipurpose Auditorium

The use of auditoria for more than one purpose is far from new but the conscious design to accommodate more than one acoustic type of performance is relatively recent. It has become increasingly apparent that for economic reasons auditoria dedicated to just one single use are often unrealistic for big companies and also in large cities where a degree of flexibility in use is now becoming the norm from speech or music to theatre, performances and fashion shows. The possibility to find architectural solutions to control a variable acoustics within a big range is the main interest in this discussion. Construction details are developed and their possible combinations of different customized elements is reported, related to a specific case study: the Calzedonia Auditorium, a shoebox of 10.200 m(3). In literature there are general traditional guidelines to apply for large multipurpose rooms. Because in this space the seats are totally removable and there are design features unique for it, some of these guidelines are accepted and some are changed in relation with the requests of the client and considering also the possibility of a new approach suitable for both speech and music in some special layouts and configurations. Predicting situations are explained to create a methodological approach, according to the contemporary multipurpose requests. Numerous configurations, more than 12, with different combinations of the movable architectural element positions have been recorded in the software depending on the number of seats in the room and activities to be deployed. Measures confirm the acoustic design, the client satisfaction the integrated Architecture.