Minneapolis, MN -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/31/2015 --When singer/songwriter Jan Edwards expanded her property in Plymouth, Minn., to include the Moonacy Music Room performance space, aesthetics, a state-of-the-art sound system and optimized acoustics were vital. Designed to represent the four elements—earth, water, air and fire—the Moonacy Music Room is a collaborative venue for songwriter workshops, video conferencing, house concerts, fund-raising for music-related nonprofits and private events. To achieve optimum acoustics, the design and engineering team incorporated FABRITEC Wall Panels and willtec® strips from pinta acoustic into the art and décor.
The concept for the room began to take shape when Edwards had purchased an 18- by 9-foot (5.48 by 2.74 m), colorful Native American painting created by Rabbett Before Horses Strickland, an Ojibwa artist from northern Wisconsin. Called The Right to Consciousness, this artwork was central to the space. The creative process evolved during a brainstorming session between Edwards, architect Alex Haecker and interior designers Shelly Reihl David and Carl David. Edwards introduced a magazine tear sheet with a quilted wall. This was the impetus behind what has been named the magic wall.
The magic wall contains nearly 400 squares of custom FABRITEC acoustical tiles wrapped in 11 different textured and colored fabrics. To add movement to the wall, Luke Nelson from Acoustic Vision recommended incorporating 19 Planar® digital screens intermixed with the acoustical panels. These digital screens were programmed to display atmospheric images, such as the murmuring of starlings or a rolling storm. The video images on the magic wall represent the element air.
The music room was designed with angled walls, exposed metal trusses, a shiplap ceiling that increases in elevation from 11 to 17 feet (3.35 to 5.18 m) and an epoxy-coated concrete floor. The wall behind the stage contains a 98-inch (2489 mm) digital display from Planar, flanked by large twin guitar cabinets made with glass and reclaimed wood from a tobacco barn in Virginia. Reclaimed wood was also used to build the stage and wide baseboards and wainscoting. To allow natural light in, the space includes a wall of windows opposite the stage. The wood of the stage and cabinets, and the wood instruments symbolize the element earth.
The shape of the space, along with many hard, reflective surfaces, posed acoustical challenges. To address them, Nelson brought in audio engineer and classically trained cellist Charles G. (Skip) Kahane from PGS/Broadcast Media Services. Kahane recommended pinta acoustic's FABRITEC Wall Tiles, willtec panels and willduct® HVAC ductwork thermal and sound insulation for the Moonacy Music Room.
"The increasing rise of the ceiling, and ending in a glass wall, gave the space a megaphone-like characteristic," explains Kahane. "In music venues, we typically treat the stage first and the wall opposing the stage second. We were unable to do that because of the guitar cabinets and large display on the stage and the facing glass wall."
To treat the space, Kahane specified 15.5- by 15.5- by 1-inch (394 by 394 by 25 mm) FABRITEC panels for the magic wall. These tiles were custom-wrapped in the materials selected by interior designer David. 10.375-inch (264 mm)-wide willtec strips, faced with a superwhite HPC coating, were directly applied using acouSTIC adhesive in a pattern to blend with the white shiplap ceiling. Additional 1.5-inch (38 mm)-thick willtec acoustical panels were nested in the frame behind the artwork using string tacked in a zigzag pattern across the back of the frame. Testing after acoustical treatment reveals a reverberation time of .74.
"We couldn't have done it without pinta acoustic's product," continues Kahane. "Fiberglass wall panels were not an option. The exceptional acoustical performance of FABRITEC and willtec and the ability to custom-cut the product in the field allowed for the freedom to provide a simple solution."
"Many of the FABRITEC panels were shipped from pinta acoustic with the custom fabric fully wrapped on the top and edges," says Devin Jackson, acoustical engineer and owner of Jackson Sound Management Productions. "Additional panels were supplied with the fabric secured only to the top. This allowed us to custom-cut the tiles to fit the ceiling and wall lines. Once cut to size, panels were finished by wrapping and adhering the fabric to the edges. Each tile was direct-applied to the wall using pinta's acouSTIC adhesive. The willtec strips on the ceiling were also cut in the field to fit around the metal tresses and other fixtures."
"The fourth element, fire, is depicted in the bar that was created by a local sculptor, James Lamis. Also a light display casts the image of fire onto the draperies behind the bar. Unique hanging light fixtures simulate charred tree branches," explains Edwards. "One of my favorite features is the aquarium that's on the same wall as the painting. It exhibits specimens of beautiful koi and a replica of the Moonacy Music Room on a cliff. The painting by Rabbett, aquarium and the powder room symbolize water."
Made of pinta's willtec foam core, FABRITEC Wall Panels offer outstanding acoustical performance, absorbing up to 85 percent of the sound directed toward them. Available in custom and standard sizes, FABRITEC panels are impact resistant and have a tackable surface. Select from hundreds of standard or custom fabrics, including Guilford, Maharam and others. FABRITEC Wall Panels are lightweight, making them easy to install with adhesive and/or hook and loop.
willtec foam is Class 1 fire-rated and available in natural white or light grey with an optional HPC coating in standard and custom colors. Panel sizes can be any dimension up to 48 by 96 inches (1219 by 2438 mm), and typical thicknesses range between 2 and 3 inches (51 and 76 mm). Custom shapes, colors and sizes are available.
willduct was also used to absorb background noise caused by HVAC fans and blowers. Resistant to mold and mildew, willduct passes UL 181, is easy to install in HVAC ductwork and provides thermal and sound insulation.
To download The Science of Better Acoustics white paper, go to www.pintaacoustic.net/acoustic-information. To learn more about pinta acoustic and its products, visit http://www.pinta-acoustic.com or call 800-662-0032 or 612-355-4200.
About Jan Edwards
A member of Nashville's SongTownUSA, Nashville Songwriter's Association International (NSAI) and Minnesota Association of Songwriters (MAS), and The Recording Academy (Grammy's), Jan Edwards is a singer/songwriter. Having lived in Nashville for a period of time, she still has ties in Music City while living in her hometown, Minneapolis. Jan's latest project is an album, titled Right Here, that spans her broad life experiences in an eclectic, but approachable, hybrid country style. Her newest endeavor is a private performance space at her home in Minneapolis called, Moonacy Music Room. http://www.janedwards.com
About PGS/Broadcast Media Services | Charles G. (Skip) Kahane, CAE
PGS/Broadcast Media Services provides architectural acoustic services, including design and installation of architectural-grade sound reinforcement systems for performance venues. A classically trained musician, Kahane has performed at various locations worldwide.
About AWH Architects | Alex Haecker
Specializing in delivering client-specific design solutions, AWH Architects utilizes a collaborative, inclusive and iterative design process. AWH Architects provides creative design solutions that pursue sustainable resolutions to the built environment. http://www.awharchitects.com
About CIH Design | Shelly Riehl David and Carl David
CIH Design creates one-of-a-kind spaces for discerning clients worldwide. CIH provides photo-realistic renderings to assist clients in virtually visualizing the completed project. Turnkey design services and complete furnishing collections are CIH Design's specialty for personal estates, condominiums, restaurants, hotels and resorts. http://www.cihdesign.com
About Acoustic Vision | Luke Nelson
Acoustic Vision specializes in providing seamless integration of technology into any environment. From the living room to the boardroom, the professionals at Acoustic Vision can work with you to design a system customized to your needs. http://www.theacousticvision.com
About Jackson Sound Management Productions | Devin Jackson
Jackson Sound Management (JSM) Productions provides audio engineering, acoustical testing and installation of professional-grade sound, paging, video conference and video systems for schools, churches, stages and athletic venues.
About pinta acoustic, inc.
pinta acoustic, inc. manufactures a broad range of attractive direct-apply, glue-up and suspended ceiling and wall panels, clouds, baffles and other acoustical products for commercial and industrial applications. pinta acoustic's products include WHISPERWAVE™ Clouds and Baffles, CONTOUR® and PHONSTOP™ Ceiling and Wall Panels, HARMONI and WHITELINE® lay-in Ceiling Panels, SQUARELINE® Expanded Metal Ceiling Panels, BIOLINE® Wood Ceiling Tiles, FABRITEC Wall Panels, SONEX® Direct Apply Panels and Suspended Baffles, acouSTIC™ adhesive, SONEX AFS acoustic plaster finishing systems, SONEX Linear Absorbers, SONEX PLANO Absorbers, SONEX Rondo Cylindrical Baffles, SONEX Clean Baffles and Panels, PROSPEC® Barrier Foam and Composite Materials.
pinta acoustic, inc.
2601 49th Avenue North, Ste. 400
Minneapolis, MN 55430
612-355-4250
800-662-0032
sales@pinta-acoustic.com
http://www.pinta-acoustic.com
Contact: Holly Jo Anderson
holly@veritasmarketing.com
952-738-8177
Editor's note: pinta acoustic, inc. prefers lowercase spelling of its entire name and its products, willtec and willduct.
http://pintaacoustic.net/
