Grooved Perforated Acoustic Panels | University Auditorium Professional Sound Tuning

grooved perforated acoustic panels

Project Overview

This acoustic upgrade project is for a 750-seat multi-functional academic auditorium at a higher education institution, hosting academic lectures, conference reports, small theatrical performances and campus cultural activities. The original masonry structure with high ceiling causes prominent mid-low frequency standing waves and uneven sound field distribution. Speech intelligibility is poor during lectures, and musical performances lack layering and dynamic range.

Acoustic Solution Deployment

  • Side & rear walls: Grooved and perforated resonant acoustic panel system paired with mineral wool infill and rear air cavity structure is installed. Based on acoustic simulation of the hall’s volume and geometry, the slot and perforation ratio is precisely adjusted to target 250–1000Hz mid-low frequency standing waves. The overall system NRC reaches 0.90, achieving balanced full-band sound absorption for both speech and live music.
  • Ceiling area: High-density fiberglass acoustic ceiling tiles (NRC 0.90–0.95) are laid to control overhead reflections and optimize overall sound field uniformity.
  • Audience area rear wall: Fabric wrapped acoustic panels are added to optimize late reflection effects.

All panels hold EN 13501 Class A fire certification, with impact-resistant surfaces suitable for public campus venues. The project was completed during a scheduled academic break, construction period 24 days.

Project Results

Final acoustic testing shows reverberation time falls within the optimal dual-use range for speech and live music. Speech intelligibility increases by more than 45%, and musical performances present clear layering and stable low-frequency response.