My New Space - Any Suggestions?

Hello, I just discovered this site a few days ago and have spent many hours reading the various threads. I still have a few unanswered questions and am curious to see if anyone has any advice for the space I am moving into. SPACE (see attached) It is a 200sq' space on the 6th floor of an office building in Brooklyn, NY (see diagram). I have a hallway on one side, bathrooms on one side (right side on diagram), and people working in offices on the other 2 sides. The walls seem like they are standard office drywall. The floor is wood. The ceiling is 8.5' and it's a standard office drop ceiling. I can hear people talking in adjacent rooms and people walking around upstairs. If I ever vacate the space, the room must be exactly the way it is now. Thus, I'm not sure if I can add any density to the current walls. There is an A/C duct right in the center of the ceiling. PURPOSE I am a sound library developer and sound designer. I monitor at a pretty moderate level - sometimes louder/quieter. Sometimes, I need to record instruments like acoustic guitar or harp or a singer. Sometimes I need to produce dance music for ads (ie consistent thumping kick drum). GOALS I want the room to be multipurpose. I am NOT playing live drums or recording bands. I do not want to bother the other tenants and I do not want to bothered by them. I basically want to feel comfortable and confident when I need to mix at higher levels. I also want to be able to record acoustic instruments without worrying too much about outside noise. NOTE: I record acoustic instruments quite infrequently (4-5 times per year, and can easily schedule to do it evenings or weekends when people aren't in the building). I also want the room to be somewhat modular should I need to leave the space in 2 years or so. It should be something that I can take down and set up again in a room of equal proportions. BUDGET $2500 - does this make you laugh? I can go up to $3500, but would prefer not to. I already have acoustical treatments. 2 bass traps - 4 light panels - 4 heavy panels WHY I NEED HELP :) I've read about most of the options available and am wondering what the experts here would recommend. Single studs? Staggered Studs? Resilient Channel? Green Glue? Drywall? Sound Board? Basically, there are so many options, but I don't know what I need to achieve my goals effectively. Some main questions that are sticking out as I start to plan construction are: • How do I add density to the current walls without destroying them? • Looking at the attached diagram, notice the protruding beams. How should I deal with these? • How can I make this a simple "modular" construction so that I can dissemble it should I need to vacate the space in 2 years? • For what I am doing (mixing, sound design, ocassional acoustic instrument recording) how "soundproof" do I need to make the room? • I assume that a floating floor is not necessary right? Thanks and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

I'm wondering now if I've accidentally designed a 3-leaf system. Here is the design so far: 1) Leave the current walls untouched 2) Build a standalone structure a few inches in from the original wall 3) Build an outer wall 2 layers of drywall - staggered 4) 6" gap 5) Inner wall with 2 layers drywall - staggered studs So my question is: Does the original wall in the place make this a 3-leaf system? If so, how can I build on the original wall without destroying it?

Speedo, Welcome to the forum. I've not posted advice on here in a while but here I go. 1. $2,500 to $3,500 seems like a real low number. I doubt you can get it done in that price range. 2. Please spend a few hours going through the forum and the SAE site. Please buy Rod's book available in the Stickies. Most of your questions have already been asked and answered many, many times. 3. Your not really giving us enough information to go on. As to your "design so far". 1) Leave the current walls untouched Most likely NO that will not be the recommendation 2) Build a standalone structure a few inches in from the original wall Maybe 3) Build an outer wall 2 layers of drywall - staggered By suggesting staggered stud I can only guess you are missing the MAM concept Mass Air Mass 4) 6" gap You mean AIR or space between Mass's or what? 5) Inner wall with 2 layers drywall - staggered studs It would be absolutely pointless to build a staggered stud walls on the outside walls of a new studio inside an existing structure. Staggered Stud could be used to divide rooms with in the studio space however most go for double non attaching walls where the studs are 1" apart. Then the Air space = that 1" plus the width of stud bays of both walls 3.5" X 2 ( a 2x4 is actually 1.5" x 3.5" so... you'd have an 8" air space. Insulation is included as air in the calculation. Again please take the time to read and study. Go find out specific things about the structure I'm sure you will wonder about as you study. Then come back with questions for which you can not find answers. I've not been on here for a while. Some other long time contributing members have not been posting that much lately either (wild ass guess) :lol: One more thing:

If I ever vacate the space, the room must be exactly the way it is now. Thus, I'm not sure if I can add any density to the current walls.

Maybe consider another space? Marc