Innovative design with Concrete Masonry Units has created acoustic perfection at this performing arts center for the new Marshall High School in Marshall, MN. Unit masonry was highly adaptable to the unique wall shapes that Steve Kvernstoen and ATS&R required to provide good diffusion of sound in a shallow seating area wrapped around a thrust stage. The acoustic properties of CMU were used to provide low frequency reflection and acoustic "warmth" in this uniquely shaped 800-seat auditorium that is also home to professional traveling performances for the Marshall, MN community.
Schools are one of the largest project types for masonry construction and often the most visible expression of a community towards the importance of future generations. The use of masonry for a majority of K-12 and higher education schools is a sign that masonry is chosen for its efficiencies in construction in the long run. Masonry can in a single material be a durable structural system while providing sound deadening and reflective acoustic properties in a fire rated material.
