Juliet Rosch Recital Hall/Mason Hall Addition & RenovationState University of New York College at Fredonia, New YorkThe Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall is the new centerpiece of Mason Hall which houses the university’s musicdepartment. PKSB designed the theater as part of a 57,000-square-foot expansion which increased the department’senrollment and enriched its academic programs.Achieving outstanding acoustical quality was the designers’ primary goal.The walls and ceilings of the theater are clad in 1,400 acoustical panels that are supported by a wood grid. Thepanels give the walls a richly textured surface that modulates sound quality. Acting as both decorative and functionaldevices, the panels reinterpret the use of elaborate ornamentation which was typically used in older theaters totemper sound. The concert hall also features elegant finishes and details, such as wood flooring, wood theaterseating with green velvet upholstery, green velvet curtains in the balcony, and paneled stage doors that allow theinstallation of large instruments and equipment.The theater was designed to accommodate a wide range of musical performances and events. Curtains behind thepanels can be opened or closed to change the aural environment according to need. The theater is also equippedwith an overhead screen. Lighting is recessed in the ceiling panels, and the lighting system is connected to a state-of-the-art dimming system.AwardsIIDA Design Award