Edmonton Public Library Mill Woods Branch

The bold design of the new Mill Woods Library, Seniors and Multicultural Centre connects the user to the outside

through large windows and skylights, which are visually appealing but acoustically challenging. An opportunity to integrate good room acoustics for the library and reading rooms into the sculptured interior design was capitalized upon when the hard reflecting gypsum board ceiling was changed to a perforated gypsum product and backed with sound absorbing material. Thus the angular, smooth, high-tech look was preserved while providing reverberation control.

For the Seniors Lounge, we generated a design with a lower than typical reverberation time to facilitate a better listening environment for those who may have reduced hearing capability or wear hearing aids. For both spaces, four options were offered to the architect to allow the maximum design freedom to achieve the aesthetic goals and project budget. We pride ourselves on offering flexible designs and alternates so that our clients can select solutions best suited to the project needs. The project is a LEED Silver certification candidate.

The project architect is DUB / HCMA Architects of Edmonton. Daniel Lyzun & Associates of Vancouver is the acoustical consultant of record for which Soundscape performed the room acoustics design.