New Studio Layout Advice - Take 2 :-)

I'm going to be building a new studio, I've got a building for it, but I'd like some advice as to the layout. Goals: 1) A GREAT control room 2) A good tracking room that ideally could fit a small band. A drum booth in the tracking room would be nice, but it could also be separate. 3) At least one, preferably 2 vocal booths. 4) A reception/office area with enough room for a filing cabinet or two, a computer desk, regular desk, etc. When I'm not recording here, I'll be "working." I write software for a living and my "office" doesn't need to handle visitors or clients ( I work out of my house now) but it could be set up as a lounge area/office combination (i.e., dual use). As I said, I have just purchased a building to put this in. I've attached an SU file showing the basic layout. I haven't been able to figure out all the bells and whistles of SketchUp yet so it's very basic. By way of explanation, the windows along the front of the building need to stay (for building resale purposes) but they don't have to be "functional" as long as I have a studio there. There are no neighbors any where near by so noise OUT of the studio won't be a problem. The streets (it's on a corner) are fairly quiet. The basic construction is cement filled cinder block, then a couple of inches of foam insulation, then a red brick facade on the outside. This goes all the way around the building except for the glass front. The front is 5 49" x 58" windows. My available ceiling height is 8' 5" or so. The current ceiling is drop down accoustic tile w/ flourecent (sp?) light fixtures (which I know have to go) with 3 1/2" of insulation laid on top of them. The roof is supported on wooden trusses and is gravel-tar-tar paper-tounge and groove pine. The big "problem" I have with this space right now it's the pilars that run almost down the center. There's about 15' on the door side and the balance on the other side. I have been assured that if it's necessary, I can add additional beams and remove the pilars without the whole thing falling down. Of course, it would be great if I could just leave them up but I also know that that would cut into possible design options (I'd really rather not have to straddle a pole while I'm mixing!!). I think that covers the details I can't show in the drawing. I've got a couple of thousand to spend if needed but anything I don't have to spend on walls and sound proofing I can spend on equipment. I can always get more equipment later so I'd rather make sure I have a well designed/constructed studio rather than a new mic or preamp. Thanks in advance for any layout suggestions. Len Morgan

Len - a building like yours always has the problem - what if the reception area people want to go to the bathroom. You must have a hallway down the length of the building or they will be walking through your control room OR your studio. :evil: Plus that rear exit door must provide a clear exit. So this is what I've come up with but it's too big to post so here's a link. HERE cheers john

Thanks for the quick reply, John! I love the design (except for the pilar in the middle of the studio - which is the building's fault, not yours). I guess there were a couple of things I either left out or didn't state clearly enough in my original post. 1) The windows along the front of the building are going to be covered up regardless of the design on the inside. This building is only 3 blocks from the High School and I don't want to temp any drunken teens to see who can put a rock through one (or all) of them first!!!! 2) The little "kick out" room on the left side of the original drawing used to be for a drive through window (this building was originally a pharmacy) and I thought it would make either a good storage cabinet or a place to put an equipment rack or two. 3) The corner in the "lower left" (diagonally opposite corner from the angled front door) is a small bathroom which is about the only part of the room that can't be moved (because of the plumbing). 4) I got frustrated with trying to get SketchUp to behave that I didn't include a door in the wall at the back non-load-bearing wall that is right across from the back door so there IS a direct path from the front to the back doors through this small door. In my mind, I saw a hallway from the front door all the way down the right hand side (along the wall with the diagonal door). See next. 5) The front lounge part (facing the glass windows) doesn't need to be there. I was thinking of building a wall right up close to the windows. If I understand what you were saying about exits, there is no door on the left side of the building. That's why I had always thought of having the hallway down the left side because there is then a door at either end. Does having a pilar in the middle of the room present any accoustical problems or just asthetic ones (to me anyway)? Would your design change any if the pilars were completely gone or could be moved? Thanks again! Quick PS: I've seen a lot of what look like sliding glass doors between rooms. Are there any links to specific designs or even pre-made doors that would provide the isolation and not rattle either on the forum or a mfgr's web site? Thanks. len morgan

John, After looking at your design for a little while, I think it migh be perfect if it was flipped (internally) so the hallway was on the same side as the diagonal door. That would put the little "kickout room" at the back of the control room (maybe that's NOT the best idea), it would leave the bathroom alone and you'd have an almost direct path from front to back. Remember the non-load-bearing wall can be moved, cut, or even removed and there's already a narrow door there (not on the original drawing. The only potential problem is that the pilars would end up being in different places since they don't run down the center but are offset a little to one side. BTW: I went back and remeasured the distances between each of the pilars and they are (from the front wall of the building (glass windows): 6', 15', 23' 3", 33' 8", 38' 1" Thanks again, Len

could you also give the measurement of hte pillars from the wall - plus what size are the pillars. The control room is placed where it is because it's the only place where you get a full length 16' and they are between the widest pillars. - if you reverse it you'll end up with a 12' deep control room or a 16' one with pillars in the control room. plus where is the HVAC you said existed in the original drawing?? I allowed for that in the room adjacent the control room. cheers john

1) The pilars are 13' from the "kick out" side, 15' to the diagonal door side. 2) The HVAC system is in the rear of the building (opposite end from the front windows) on the side with the diagonal door. There is the blower/heat exchanger assembly with a rectangular duct that runs down the side of the building with the diagonal door. That entire ducting system could (and probably should) be removed since that is the ONLY air in the entire building. There is currently a large (3' x 4') hole in the non-load-bearing wall at floor level that is the only return vent for the system so this will all have to be reworked. This shouldn't impact the layout any since I can run multiple flexible duct lines from the back corner where the HVAC system is, through the trusses and then down into the various rooms. 3) As to the pilars themselves, while it's always nice if you can use what you've got, for only a couple of hundred bucks, I can get engineered beams to go half way between the triple 2 x 12s that currently sit on the pilars on either side and do away with the pilars completely. This would give a completely open space to work with except for the bathroom on the back corner of the building (on the kick-out side). Hope that gives you enough to work with. Thanks again!!!

While I investigate the possibility of removing the pilars in the (more-or-less) center of the building, I've got a couple of other quick general questions: 1) This floor is poured concrete covered with 1' sq floor tiles. When I build the walls, should I permanently nail (with one of those bullet driven nail punches) the sole plates to the floor? 2) Would "Green Glue" buy me anything if I used it between the floor and the sole plates of the walls? How about sheet rubber (and if so, where would I get the rubber) 3) In John's rough layout, the walls appear to be single double faced ones. This may be because it is a ROUGH layout and not construction blue prints. My general question would be if I build double walls (between different rooms/booths) am I accoustically better off with two separate sole plates with a gap between the walls or with something like a 2 x 6 with staggered studs? Thanks to all! len

Well, I've gotten with a structural engineer and he said I have some freedom to move the pilars around a little so I'd like to see if we can reverse the process (i.e., put everything in the building and THEN put in the pilars where the walls intersect the centerline. I've attached a new jpeg and the SU file can be downloaded at: http://sql01.kttk.net/Studio_Designs/St ... s_Mods.skp There are notes on the drawing. I do not care if the glass front is covered up with interior walls (in fact, I'd prefer it). The only "fixed" things are the doors, the bathroom location and the non-load-bearing wall. Please note that this wall is really 39' 4" from the front of the building, not the 41' or so. I was trying to modify John's first design and I just can't get the hang of SketchUp yet so I did the best I could. My goals for this studio are listed in the first post in this thread. Thanks for any layout ideas you might provide. Len Morgan

Len, are you still looking for feedback on this?

Actually, not any more. I've got my design and just worked around the pilars. The main recording room will still have two pilars in there but I don't think they're going to cause me a problem though. As I said in my email, I've already got my permit and the material is rolling in. As soon as I cover up my front windows so the glass won't be broken, I'll be building the interior walls. I'll be starting my diary soon. :-) It's nice to know someone else is reading this. I was having a long conversation with myself! Len

Spend some time in my thread, and you'll see that most of the talk in there is my own! :lol: I'm sure I speak for many when I say we'd love to see your latest updated plans. In other words, start diarying!! 8) --Keith :mrgreen: