
Client
City of Sacramento
Project Location
Sacramento, CA
Area
126,500 SF
Seats
2,193

Electro-Acoustic Enhancement System
The 1970s theater had reached its limits, relying heavily on curtains and drapes to modify sound for different performances. With inadequate conditions disrupting performances, we needed to design an acoustically superior space to adapt for performances yet to be imagined. Our solution expands adjustability and spreads quality sound throughout the space. There is not a bad seat in the house, acoustically speaking. How was such a feat accomplished?
Popping for Performance
Employing multiple acoustic test methods, such as the tried-and-true balloon pop method and an omni-directional dodecahedron speaker, allows our team to accurately measure reverberation time. Tap into the importance of reverberation time from DLR Group Acoustics Design Leader Jonathan Hopkins during a testing session at SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center:
DLR Group Acoustic Design Leader Jonathan Hopkins
In Tune With One Another
We worked directly with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra for full tuning sessions to get the artists familiar with and comfortable in this new sounding room. Bringing the performers into the space gives them confidence in how the system works and optimizes what they hear during a live event. As Hopkins noted, "A key part of this design is making sure the musicians can hear each other."

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra tuning for the first time on the stage.
Designed for Innovation
From adjusting sound with the simple touch of a button to making setting changes mid-performance, the benefits of the electro-acoustic enhancement system are limitless. The system allows the city of Sacramento to attract a wider range of shows and performances, many that could not be previously accommodated. And its precision through experimentation positions SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center as the premier host for today’s performances as well as new works in the future.

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra tuning the audience chamber.