Multimedia Room, Faculty of Music Building, McGill University, Montreal

Multimedia Room is the smaller hall within McGill University's new Faculty of Music Building, which opened in 2005. McGill is the home of Canada's largest comprehensive music school and provides both undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition to the normal teaching disciplines usually found in a music department, the McGill program includes an extensive and unique program in music recording technologies and multi-media research.

This expansion of the existing music facility, the historic Strathcona Music Building, consists of six levels, which feature new rehearsal spaces, world-class research and production facilities for the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, and the Marvin Duchow Music Library. Three major performance areas: Recital Hall, Multimedia Room, and Opera Workshop; have been placed on the lower levels, well underground, to provide a starting point for maximum isolation of noise and vibration.

The 200-seat Multimedia Hall has the shape of a "shoebox", which has historically been associated with exceptional room acoustics. It is thoroughly modern, however, in its equipment similarities to a large sound stage or television studio; the Hall is fully equipped with overhead catwalks, adjustable rigging, and lighting. A system of adjustable acoustics allows the widest possible variety of acoustic treatment - from absorptive to diffuse, to highly reflective - by means of individual acoustic elements, which may be repositioned as desired. This room is also able to accommodate a studio audience, and/or a full orchestra or chorus.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Auditorium Design, Facility Planning, Specialized Performance Equipment Systems Design and Background Noise and Vibration Control consulting for this new facility. Architects for this project are Menkès Shooner Dagenais / Saucier+Perrotte.