Forest Hill Civic & Convention Center

The Issue

The City of Forest Hill renovates its civic and convention center to provide a functional multipurpose space for its community of residents. The 74′ x 88′ meeting space would need to accommodate both small and large groups of people for a variety of functions.

The Challenge

The City of Forest Hill was brimming with excitement about restoring this space. This local building was to become a much-needed multi-purpose convention center for the Texas community.

“This project has been a long time in the making,” said Mayor Gerald Joubert, “And I believe this center will truly put Forest Hill on the map.”

The two-story, 33,000-square-foot building includes many types of spaces. A large classroom, an indoor basketball court/soccer area, and more than five acres of land are available for use. The facility will also serve as a rental space for meetings, conferences, and conventions.

As work came closer to completion, it was clear that the auditorium would not suit the needs of the citizens. A large amount of flat, untreated surface was reflecting sound all over the room.

“We couldn’t hear people on the stage when we were in the back of the room. Sound was bouncing all over the place,” says Venus Wehle. Wehle is the President of Forest Hill’s Community Development Corporation.

The Solution

Acoustical Solutions presented a couple of options to the community development group. The city chose to use the AlphaSorb^® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Panels in Guilford of Maine FR701 Fabric in Eggshell. This neutral color blends well with the interior space. In gyms and multi-purpose rooms, sound absorbing panels work well to cover vast areas of open wall space. They are often seen along the upper edges of the walls. This helps to address the acoustics and keep panels out of high-traffic areas.

Materials

(20) 4′ x 8′ x 1″ Thick AlphaSorb^® Acoustical Panels with square edges in Guilford of Maine FR701 Eggshell installed by Acoustical Solutions.

The Result

The materials provide an interior environment that meets the needs of the local residents. The users of the space will greatly benefit from the lower reverberation time. Event organizers can use the facility without having to worry about battling bad sound.

In the Customer’s Own Words