The opening of the new Music School and Concert Hall demonstrates Millfield's ongoing commitment to the Arts, and incorporates a 350-seat concert venue, rehearsal areas for all their ensembles, six classrooms, 25 teaching/practice rooms, recording studios and specialist percussion rooms.
J&C Joel was consulted by main contractors Cowlin, who were working directly for DK Architects. The new main performance space has been designed to offer both acoustically correct music or drama performances, and needed a solution that quickly transformed the acoustics to suit the specific type of performance taking place. J&C Joel's contract manager Tony Griffiths initially assessed the situation, and proposed a twin Triple E motorised Unirail system for the two side walls, along with a motorised Chain Track for the rear wall.
This would normally be a straightforward enough design and installation operation, but the 30m long side walls feature a series of twist, turns, curves and recesses, all of which had to be negotiated by the curtains on the track. This necessitated precise measurement, which was the most challenging aspect of the entire project according to Richard Turner, J&C Joel's project co-ordinator. In addition to ensure that the track measurements were perfect, Griffiths and Turner also had to ensure that the timber acoustic panels lining the walls were left untouched.
Griffiths explains that the Unirail was specified because of its robust build quality, its streamlined appearance and its superior motorised properties. A linear motor unit allows the 30m long x 8m drop of Midnight Blue heavy wool serge curtains to sashay around the track, gliding silently and effortlessly through the complex curves and contours of the ceiling.Another huge advantage was having a totally invisible power tail behind, the motor requires no steel cables for operation, and has locating rings sewn onto the reverse side of the curtains. All that can be seen view is the motor and the curtain behind it - leaving everything in front totally clean and clear.
To store and conceal the curtains when not in use, a 'front' façade is built onto the back wall of the concert hall. This also has acoustic properties and so needed draping, giving Griffiths and Turner the further challenge of masking it with a motorized system that could also be stored on the reverse side of a wall - which is a mere 300mm thick.
Triple E Chain Track provided the answer here. Designed to provide a diameter as low as 100mm this was the perfect product. A continuous motorised Chain Track was installed on both front and rear faces of the wall - this piece of ingenuity allows a 12m wide by 7m drop curtain to either be in full view when needed, or alternatively hidden/stored on the reverse side. J&C Joel also specified a simple remote controller that allows the Millfield staff to operate the system - similar to a TV remote.
Tony Griffiths sums up: "The great thing about our industry is the challenge of every contract being bespoke, and confirming to a client that we can do that they need. In essence the greater the challenge, the more satisfaction the completed project brings."
Earlier in 2006, J&C Joel supplied the acclaimed Yehudi Menuhin School for gifted young string and piano players, with 14 special acoustic drapes for two levels of their brand new 315-seat Menuhin Concert Hall.
(Lee Baldock)
