ACOUSTICS CASE STUDY

AUDITORIUM1. Jamshed Bhabha Theatre

2. St. Andrew’s College Auditorium

SPACE RELATIONSHIPS

• Strong echoes and focusing lead to a non uniform sound level within the room which is not desirable.

• These features of the auditorium design : scatters, convex (non-focusing) ,surfaces on balcony fronts, absorption materials, carpet .

AVOIDANCE OF STRONG ECHOES AND FOCUSING OF SOUND RAYS

• Intimacy implies a short time between the first reflection of sound to the ear and the direct sound from the source.

• Sound level of the source needs to be distinctly higher than the background sound. This promotes good speech intelligibility.

INTIMACY, CLARITY

• This keeps the background noise level down.

• Thick heavy walls and doors help to reduce the background noise.

• Seals on doors are important .

• It is also important to reduce noise from air handling systems, walking on floors and also talking outside the room.

REDUCTION OF SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS

CONDITIONS FOR GOOD ACOUSTICS IN AUDITORIUM

JAMSHED BHABHA THEATRE

HISTORY

The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) was envisioned by the late Dr. Jamshed Bhabha as a

bastion to be an upholder of the arts and culture in Mumbai and India. The first, the TATA Theatre, though

stated to have conceptual influences from Welton Becket and Phillip Johnson was essentially designed,

detailed and executed by Rustom Patell, of Patell Batliwala & Associates. Patell a Taliesin fellow and TATA

scholar was at that point in time working on numerous projects for the Bhabha family. The facility thereafter

grew to have numerous theatres, the second large multi-purpose facility being the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre.

Designed by RBJ Patell the theatre was substantially built when an electrical short circuit razed the inside

beyond repair. Re-design and re-construction provided the facility in use today, including a neo-classical

marble stair donated by the Petit family that sits as a frontispiece in the main lobby. The stair itself is a folly

and a piece of art rather than being utilitarian and was removed and re-located with diligent documentation

during removal and re-construction. This theatre follows a more pragmatic shoe-box concept with a

somewhat steep yet regular rake for the seating. Colours and materials received the close eye of Dr. Bhabha

himself. Acoustics saw the influencing ideas of the late Burjor Mistry, a well recognized acoustician in Indian

circles.

• Founder : Dr. Jamshed J Bhabha

• Architect : Philip Johnson and Patel Batliwala Associates

• Year : 1959

• Capacity : 1109 Person

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LOCATION

Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA,

NCPA Marg, Nariman Point,

Mumbai, Maharashtra

SITE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD

• The NCPA complex occupies an area of about 3200m².

• The site can be accessed through 6 gates, the side is divided into 6 major blocks.

• Apart from these, within the site there are parking spaces, A.C. plants, staff quarters

and electric substations.

• The site is located in a commercial area.

• NCPA is surrounded by hotels, malls, offices etc.

• NCPA is 1km away from Churchgate station

SITE LAYOUT

The 5 main theatres within

the NCPA complex are:-

1. Tata Theatre

2. Jamshed Bhabha Theatre

3. Godrej Dance Theatre

4. Little Theatre

5. Experimental Theatre

Other than these there are

many more facilities

available within the complex,

like an open air plaza,

gardens, café, library,

teaching and research etc.

There are 6 gates that can be

used to access the site.

AUDITORIUM LAYOUT

VIP

Entry

Entrance

Staircase

Foyer

Snacks counter

Toilet

Ticket

Lifts

PUBLIC ENTRY/EXIT AND SEATING ACCESS

To access the theatre for the

public, there are:

• 6 side doors

• 2 foyer entries

DOORS

• 2.4 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)

• 7 inch thick

• With panic bars

MATERIALS

Leather and thick foam

cushioning from the outside

to prevent outside noise into

the theatre and 15cm dense

wood inside.

SEATING

Seating for 1109 and gets

reduced by the use of:

• Orchestra pit (91 seats)

• In house sound and light

monitor (15 seats)

23+31

12+12+12+12

12+12+12+12

12+12+12+12

12+12+12+12

12+12+12+10

12+12+12+10

4+12+12+12+4

4+12+12+12+4

12+12+12

12+12+12

12+12+12

12+12+12

12+12+12

15+12+15

14+12+14

14+12+14

14+12+14

12+12+12

12+12+12

11+12+11

10+12+10

10+10+10

8+12+8

7+10+7

AUDITORIUM INVERTED CEILING PLAN• Divided into 3 parts the

ceiling in the middle can

double up for the

extended stage or

audience.

• The ceiling of the stage

and the adjacent are laid

at an angle while the

ceiling of the seating area

is suspended 2-3m below

the actual ceiling surface.

• The grid like ceiling is

equipped with centralized

air conditioning system

and lighting fixtures

spread all over covering

the entire seating area.

• In between the grid is

another framework which

holds the false ceiling in

place.

STAGE FLOOR PLAN

STAGE INVERTED CEILING PLAN

SECTION

Chandelier

Stage

Orchestra

Pit

Catwalk

OHT

Auditorium

Toilet

Snack

Counter

Lobby

VIP

Entrance

A.H.U room

Projector

Room

BACKSTAGE

BACKSTAGE ENTRY FOR CREW

MEMBERS

There are 4 entries for artists and

crew members directly to the

backstage of which 1 is from the foyer.

• 2.4 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)

• 3 inch thick.

• 1cm thick leather and foam

cushioning outside and rest is

dense wood inside.

LOADING/UNLOADING

There are 3 entries directly from

outside for loading/unloading of the

props and instruments.

• 3m (w) x 5.6m (h)

• 2 x wooden doors

• 1 x rolling shutter.

The A.C. compressors are all placed

on the backside of the stage along

with the fire equipment.

GREEN ROOM

• Total no. of green rooms = 10

• No. of floors = G+2

• Ground floor – 4 rooms

• 1st floor – 3 rooms

• 2nd floor – 3 rooms

• Sound proof 3inch thick

backstage door to green room

• 2inch thick wooden greenroom

doors

• Each green room has an A.C.

• Each green room has its own

toilet and cupboards

• There are 3 makeup mirrors in

each green room with 6 lights for

each mirror.

WALLS

• The panels on the walls around the first three seating rows /

orchestra pit of the auditorium is made of concrete or Plaster of

Paris, with a pointed finish plaster.

• Marble is used for the paneling of the lower portions of the

auditorium.

• The panels above the control booth in the rear of the

auditorium are made of concrete with marble inlays.

• There are hollow projections that come out from the sides of

the auditorium that may act as resonators or anti focusing

surfaces that help in dispersion of sound.

• The rear of the stage has diffusive wooden panels in different

shapes.

• This along with the acrylic banners hung in the ceiling help to

diffuse and reflect sound appropriately into the auditorium.

FLOORS AND CATWALKS

AUDITORIUM

• The material used in the flooring is woolen carpet.

• These woolen carpets are very good absorptive material.

• The carpet is 80% wool and 20% nylon.

STAGE

• The stage floor is made of hard wood

CATWALK

• There are 33 Back drops which work on counter balance

system.

• The steel beams in the catwalk are coated with vermicular

coating, hence heat can be absorbed for 5-6 hours.

• There is a catwalk above the seating area for changing and

repairing lights. The intensity of lights can be controlled from

the technical control room.

CONTROL ROOM

• Control is divided into three

parts

• The first section was sound

room with another partitioned

channel mixer in the third

room.

• The second section was

projection room and had

different opening sizes for

different types of projectors.

• The third part was light room

which had the additional fire

setup

• The whole control room was air

conditioned and carpet floored

CONTROL ROOM

ST. ANDREWS AUDITORIUM

HISTORY

• During 1980 much planning was done to study all the aspects to start this college.

• Bandra was chosen for this college because of the Catholic population in this suburb.

• 1st January 1981- inauguration of the new college named as St Andrews College of

arts, commerce and science.

• June 1981- establishing the college and constructing the new building required to

house the college.

• A new Trust, St. Andrew’s Society for Education and Research was created on 10 July

1981.

LOCATION

ENTRY

EXIT

AUDITORIUM

ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE,

DOMINIC ROAD,

BANDRA WEST, MUMBAI

ENTRY

EXIT

ST JOSEPHS PRIMARY

SCHOOL

ARYA VIDYA

MANDIR

ST JOSEPHS

CONVENT

HIGH SCHOOL

ANDORA’S

CAFE

HOLY FAMILY

HOSPITAL

AND

RESEARCH

CENTRE

TWO WHEELER PARKING

CANTEEN

BASKETBALL

COURT

PEDESTRIAN

PATHWAY

ST ANDREWS AUDITORIUM

• St Andrews Auditorium is regarded as one of its kind in Mumbai.

• St. Andrew's Auditorium stages children's music and theatre, spiritual and devotional

concerts, as well as performances from the Marathi stage.

• It is a fully equipped auditorium. Its infrastructure and amenities make it a popular

choice to organize events in this busy Mumbai suburb.

• It has a total seating capacity of 250 seats, a great lighting grid, wheelchair access,

and ample parking space.

PUBLIC ENTRY/EXIT AND SEATING

ACCESS

To access the theatre for the

public, there are:

• 4 side doors

DOORS

• 1.7 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)

• 7 inch thick.

MATERIALS

Leather and thick foam

cushioning from the outside

to prevent outside noise into

the theatre and 15cm dense

wood inside.

SEATING

Seating for 811

ENTRY/EXIT ENTRY/EXIT

1.5M1.5M

CANTEENCANTEEN

INVERTED CEILING PLAN

• 54 CEILING

LIGHTS(YELLOW

CIRCLES)

• 28 BLOWERS (RED

SQUARES)

• 15 SPOT LIGHTS

FOCUSING ON THE

STAGE.

SPOTLIGHTS

AC DUCT VENTS

STAGE

STAGE

• THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE

GREENS ROOMS FOR GIRLS

AND BOYS EACH WITH

ATTACHED TOILET.

• ONE ROOM IS DIVIDED

INTO 3 USING CURTAINS.

• LONG DRESSING TABLE

THROUGH OUT ONE SIDE

OF THE ROOM WITH 6BULBS

PER MIRROR.

• THE LOADING AND

UNLOADING OF THE

INSTRUMENTES AND PROPS

HAPPENS TO THE RIGHT

SIDE OF THE STAGE.

• NON MOVABLE FINS ON

THE PERIPHERY OF THE

STAGE

SECTION