The state of the art in worship space acoustics

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2016-04, Vol.139 (4), p.2118-2118
• Main Authors: Bradley, David T., Ryherd, Erica E., Ronsse, Lauren M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.4950304

Thoughtful acoustic design is essential for creating a worship experience full of awe and wonder. Worship space acousticians must grapple with differing acoustic requirements for speech and music, including a diversity of typologies across religions, cultures, and regions. Even a single worship space may require multi-functionality if used for a variety of service types or events. In addition to supporting the speech and/or music delivered as part of a service, the space must be supportive of congregant participation—ranging from lively exaltation to quiet reflection. The result is a richly complex and diverse set of acoustic approaches in the realm of worship space design. The new book, Worship Space Acoustics: 3 Decades of Design (Eds. Bradley, Ryherd, + Ronsse, Springer/ASA Press, 2016) provides a wide-ranging tour through churches, synagogues, mosques, and other worship spaces designed during the past 30 years. Acoustical consulting firms, architects, and worship space designers from across the world contributed their recent innovative works, including detailed renderings and architectural drawings, acoustic data graphs, and space descriptions. The content paints a picture of key worship space acoustic design goals and strategies from the last three decades. Case studies and overall themes from the book will be presented.