Some preliminary acoustical considerations in the design for the proposed Wellington (New Zealand) town hall

The preliminary design for Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand, is an evolution from the successful design for Christchurch Town Hall. It includes, however, the results of a decade of experimental work on the effects of early lateral reflections on listener preference for orchestral music. The basic form of the auditorium remains an arena, roughly elliptical in plan, and containing within its boundaries large suspended surfaces to ensure appropriate reflection sequences. The acoustical design objectives include the combination of a long reverberation time, “envelopment” due to the lateral reflections and clarity as encourtered in Christchurch Town Hall. Advances in the provision of diffusion and understanding of the acoustical requirements for ensemble are included in the proposals. The experimental work and other advances in knowledge relating to concert hall design are reviewed, and their application in the design of Wellington Town Hall is discussed.