Studio floorplan advice requested (please!)....

Started by Travelreview on 22 June 2004. 0 replies.

Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 1840.

Dear Forum members, As a complete novice at studio design, your help would be appreciated. Attached you will find 2 floorplans for a space that I intend to lease and convert into an AV recording/post facilty here in Montreal. Unlike many of the 75 other spaces I have looked at, this specific commercial loft is located in a much quieter area of downtown and has many features I prefer. The height of this mostly rectangular 4400 sq. ft. unit is 11'6" with an additional 12" or more available between the steel ceiling beams (where sprinklers are located). Walls appear to be solid painted double layers of brick in all areas except the garage door and double door main entry point. Ceiling and floor are continious solid cement slab. There is no basement!. The good news is that my only neighbor (above and to the sides) is an armored car depot (massive security!) and the only zones where any noticible noise leaks inside the space is via the ramp in the rear of the unit (a slight 2 second l.f. rumble when a car passes above) , and some occasional street noise via the front exterior wall's garage door. Typical SPL readings (C weighted) within the center of the raw space currently average around 37 db when the street outside is quiet, to about 54 db when a huge truck passes by the garage door area. My budget does not allow for floating any floors at this stage, but I intend to use double framed 20 gauge steel studded walls with 6" Roxul filled airspaces in most cases. I have not yet gotten deeply into to the HVAC, lighting, elect., acoustical treatment and interior design issues. There is however a gas blower heater near the main entry area. My 6 most basic requirements for this J. Sayers inspired design are that... 1) CR front faces directly into Live Room and also side faces the Isos. 2) CR geometery/treatment is acceptable for either 2 or 5.1 ch. mixing. 3) Enough isolation between the CR and the adjacent drum iso booth. 4) Live Room needs a serious reduction in reverb (now very noticable). 5) Live Room has a Dead Acoustic Zone large enough for piano or drums. 6) Reduction in street noise entering the front exterior wall/garage door. Other than those issues, I am more than willing to redesign and relocate any non-existing surfaces in order to better obtain improved results as well as more effeciently utilize the space I have to work with. As I am a novice, and this is a rough draft floorplan, I would appreciate any and all advice as to corrections and modifications and redesigns that may assist in creating a better recording environment. I have about 2 months to get this design complete and begin a month or so of construction using a licenced contractor and our own slave labour. Thanks in advance for your help and advice.... Ron Charles Montreal, CANADA [removed]
Image not preserved: Studio V22 BEFORE.JPG
Image not preserved: Studio V22.JPG