CLIENT
Museum of Australian Democracy
LOCATION
Canberra, Australia
YEAR
2019
PROJECT TYPE
Museum – Heritage Installation
Scope
Refurbishment of acoustics, audio systems and hearing augmentation in a heritage-listed venue
Services Provided
- →Acoustic design and modelling
- →Audio system evaluation and commissioning
- →Hearing augmentation integration
- →Technical documentation and oversight
- →Collaboration with heritage consultants and architectural teams
The Brief
The Museum of Australian Democracy engaged us to improve the functionality and audio performance of King’s Hall and the two historic Chambers, housed within the former Parliament House in Canberra.
A key requirement was the integration of modern audio and hearing augmentation systems while preserving the aesthetic and heritage integrity of the space. The solution needed to support a diverse range of uses, from daily tours and school visits to formal presentations and civic functions.
The Challenge
King’s Hall is a highly reverberant space that was never designed with sound reinforcement in mind. Its volume, hard surfaces and ornate finishes create a lingering acoustic tail, making speech intelligibility particularly poor.
Additionally, the site’s heritage listing placed tight constraints on what could be altered visually or structurally. All acoustic and AV upgrades had to be non-intrusive and sympathetic to the original architecture. This delicate balance between technical performance and visual sensitivity shaped every decision on the project.
Our Approach
We began with a comprehensive acoustic assessment, using on-site measurements and listening tests to understand the existing conditions. With clarity and control as our goals, we designed discreet acoustic treatment that echoed existing architectural details. Panels were fabricated in matching tones and finishes, subtly mounted along the walls. This reduced the mid-frequency reverberation time by around one second, significantly improving speech clarity without altering the room’s appearance.
For the loudspeaker system, we undertook a comparative listening trial of shortlisted products within the space. The Fohhn DLI-130 and DLI-230 beam-steering loudspeakers proved ideal, offering precise directivity while blending seamlessly with the hall’s structure. Their ability to shape coverage in challenging acoustics ensured consistent intelligibility across the audience area.
The AV system was supplemented with Panasonic projection and custom screen installations that are concealed within the chamber architecture when not in use, maintaining visual integrity while supporting multimedia presentations.
To address accessibility, we designed an inclusive hearing augmentation system using both Williams Sound WiFi technology and Phonak’s educational system, ensuring that tour groups and students of all abilities could engage fully with the content.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Loudspeaker System
- Fohhn DLI-130 and DLI-230 beam-steering columns
- Discreet mounting for visual harmony
- Configured to maximise clarity and minimise reflections
Hearing Augmentation
- Williams Sound WiFi system
- Phonak hearing augmentation system
- Covers King’s Hall and both Chambers
Acoustic Design
Custom-designed wall panels
Visually integrated into heritage architecture
Reduction in mid-band reverberation by 1 second
AV & Infrastructure Design
Panasonic projection
Concealed projection screens behind Speaker’s Chair
Retractable systems designed for minimal visual impact
The Results
The project delivered a dramatic improvement in both audibility and accessibility, with the Hall now capable of hosting a wide range of spoken word events without the echo or listening fatigue associated with highly reverberant spaces.
The seamless integration of audio and visual systems into a nationally significant heritage building was recognised with the ACT National Trust Heritage Award, a testament to the careful collaboration between engineering, architecture and conservation.
Visitors, staff and presenters now benefit from a space that respects the past while meeting the communication needs of the present.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
The project was managed by Warwick Bartlett and led by Chris Grebert for the Museum of Australian Democracy.
Our Team
Luis Miranda Jofre and Scott Willsallen designed and commissioned this project including the AV systems and acoustic treatment.
Our Integrator
Sound Advice were the integrator for this project with Stewart Henderson providing project management. Assistance in commissioning was provided by Lee Stevens from CMI.
Related Projects
