Facility Upgrade Creates Concert Quality Environment

Chetserfield, Mo (Stl Press Releases) December 14, 2006 - CHESTERFIELD, Missouri ? The Kemp Auto Museum ?- St. Louis? newest educational and special event facility ? announced plans to expand the museum?s offerings with an acoustical upgrade of the current facility and the introduction of special events focused on musical and dramatic entertainment.

The Kemp Auto Museum is investing over $60,000 towards the expansion of the main facility building, including an extensive soundproofing project. Consultants from Engineering Dynamics International (EDI) and local contractor Golterman & Sabo have been working with the Museum on the soundproofing project, which was completed at the end of November.

As EDI President J. T. ?Tic? Weissenburger explains it, when his company was initially called in to work with the Museum?s facilities management team in April of this year, the Kemp Auto Museum showroom had somewhat of a hollow, ?echoey? feeling.

The first step EDI took was to measure Reverberation Times (RT) at different frequencies. RT is related to the rate at which sound level is reduced after being injected into a room or space, and is not related to the sound level. Weissenburger explains, ?For a room the size of the Museum?s showroom, the longest RT found on most charts for a space of the same volume is about 2.2 seconds ? essentially, for a space the size of a cathedral and with a strong music program.?

EDI?s initial measurements in the showroom at the mid-level frequencies were way off the charts

at 3.26 seconds; experience suggests that the appropriate mid-frequency (500 Hz) target RT for a space the size of the Museum?s showroom would be in the music-speech balance range of 1.1 to 1.50 seconds. Weissenburger notes, ?For the average person, listening to an acoustical program in this space was difficult at best, and understanding speech was even more problematic.?

EDI?s challenge was to design and oversee the installation of a soundproofing solution that would reduce the reverberation time overall, not just in the mid-frequencies but at other frequencies for both music and speech as well.

Lead engineer Jeff Pride worked hand in hand with contractor Golterman & Sabo, testing an assortment of strategies, plans and materials in order to achieve the most optimal acoustical absorption available. EDI and Golterman & Sabo ultimately settled on a design recommendation which achieved a mid-frequency RT of 1.21 seconds.

According to Dennis Voss of Golterman & Sabo, the design solution incorporates two different types of acoustical treatments:

- 9.000 square feet of acoustical banners mounted across the ceiling deck;

- Fabric-covered wall panels which have been installed around the perimeter of the main hall, with additional soundproofing materials to be used in the Museum?s lobby area.

Both Voss and Weissenburger feel the end result of the project is a success. ?The bottom line is that the acoustical properties of the showroom were improved from ?very poor? to very good. An RT of 1.21 seconds vs. 3.26 seconds appears to be a small difference,? notes Weissenburger. ?However, when compared with the time it takes the human brain to react to acoustical stimuli (usually measured in micro seconds), it is a vast improvement.?

Voss comments, ?The Museum showroom is now a much more comfortable space to inhabit, both from an audible and visual point of view.?

The Kemp Auto Museum is already planning to host new types of events such as orchestra and opera concerts, dinner theater and other audible-based entertainment. Museum General Manager & Director of Events Allison Hershberger notes, ?These new music and acoustic-oriented opportunities will help us bring in the arts and entertainment segment of the special events business, and will introduce the Museum?s collection to a broader audience.?

To learn more about the new arts and entertainment events coming to the Kemp Auto Museum in 2007, or about hosting your next special or corporate event at their newly upgraded facility, please contact General Manager and Director of Events Allison Hershberger at 636-537-1718 or by email at Allison@kempautomuseum.org.

For more information about the Kemp Auto Museum and its collection, contact Curator William Nelson at (636) 537-1718 or visit the Museum?s web site at www.KempAutoMuseum.org.

About Kemp Auto Museum:

The Kemp Auto Museum is St Louis? newest attraction, special events, and educational facility. The Kemp Auto Museum offers an exhibition which presents over 40 historically significant and artistically inspired automobiles dating from the turn of the century to the contemporary. Our 23,000 square foot gallery presents guests with the opportunity to get up-close and personal with each of our automobiles in a setting that is truly classic!

Contact:
Alison Hershberger
jalden@rcig.net

Kemp Auto Museum Contact:
jalden@rcig.net