Acoustic Panels for a Place of Worship

Finding the right acoustic panels for a place of worship is a common problem. Clarity of sound is paramount here, and these buildings are always in desperate need of it, but the look and feel of the space is just as important.

High ceilings, open layouts, and many large, exposed windows and walls are commonplace in sanctuaries and fellowship halls. These features mimic the beautiful old churches that we know and love, but those buildings were made before AV equipment was available. Bare surfaces and ample open spaces in sanctuaries once helped amplify and carry sermons and music. But when used with today’s digital audio technology or applied to fellowship halls, these architectural elements create a lengthy reverberation time. Reverberation time, or RT 60, is the amount of time it takes for sound waves to stop reflecting around a room and fade completely. The longer it takes for each sound to end, the harder it is to understand subsequent sounds as they build up, making it uncomfortably loud.

These options do not have to impede the traditional design of a worship space. Sticking with a light color scheme, similar or contrasting to the walls and ceilings adds texture and a bit of interest without cluttering the existing layout. However, you are not condemned to this one aesthetic option. Acoustical treatment has become more designer-friendly in recent years.

Acoustic panels are now commonly custom-made in different shapes and sizes, with countless colors and textures of fabric. They can have cutouts, be printed with graphics or photos, and be arranged in any way a designer can dream of. So, while it is usually a first instinct to blend sound absorbing panels into the background when retrofitting, designers have the freedom to create an acoustical treatment that stands out for the right reasons and improves the original design—instead of just preserving it.

By installing acoustic panels in you place of worship, you provide the audience with greater intelligibility for the spoken word and allow for better control over the choral and musical presentations to the congregation. Echo and reverberation will cause mixed sound signals unless your church is acoustically treated. Ignoring the importance of sound quality can lessen attendance and the sustained growth of your congregation. Members will either choose to compete with the noise and speak louder, which will further increase decibel levels, or they will simply stop coming to the service. This is particularly important for people who may already struggle with hearing issues.

Here are two examples where Acoustical Solutions provided acoustic panels to places of worship that show or describe the amazing results after acoustical treatment.

This church had a fellowship hall which had rarely been used since its construction due to a noise issue. The vaulted ceiling created a reverberation of longer than four seconds. This made it impossible for children or the elderly to use the room comfortably. Acoustic Ceiling Clouds were made and installed according to a designer’s specifications, and the reverberation was reduced to 1.9 seconds. This is the perfect balance of reverb where groups can use the room for activities, but music will still sound “live.”

“Acoustically, this was the goal, and it didn’t take away from the architectural detail,” says Senior Warden Harold VanderWilt.

The Bishop’s Chapel at the Roslyn Retreat Center was a place of worship constructed in 2009. It emulates a feeling of calm and a connection to nature. The cathedral ceiling, large windows, and exposed naturally finished wooden planks help accomplish the desired look. However, this design filled the room with echo. Here is where worship space acoustic treatment comes into play. We fitted acoustic panels into the wood paneling on the walls. We also installed black acoustical ceiling tiles behind the wood paneling in the ceiling. This blended into the beautifully designed chapel and to bring down the echo.