AUERBACH POLLOCK FRIEDLANDER

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, NEW YORK, NY AND MINNEAPOLIS, MN –
(August 14, 2009) – Auerbach Pollock Friedlander has completed their work on the renovation of the Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall at Mills College in Oakland, California. The firm collaborated with EHDD Architects on this project, originally designed by architect Walter Ratcliff, Jr in 1928. The Spanish Colonial-style concert hall features Boynton frescoes and murals throughout and the renovation was recognized with a 2009 California Preservation Design Award and a Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture for a Restoration or Preservation from the Society for College and Urban Planning (SCUP) and the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE).

Prior to the comprehensive renovation of the hall, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander participated in acoustical renovation studies, resulting in the completion of a limited phase one renovation that enclosed the skylit auditorium with a massive roof, new theatrical lighting positions and lay light improvements to eliminate over-flight sound intrusion from the nearby Oakland International Airport. To support the extensive electronic music program at Mills’ renowned Center for Contemporary Music, a motorized speaker rigging system was installed to accommodate multichannel playback and the manipulation of environmental sound within the improved acoustical environment.

In 2007, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, returned with the project team for phase two work, enabling the completion of remaining work from the master plan, specifically the acoustical renovation of the audience chamber, expansion of onstage playing area, lighting system augmentation, historic seating re-fabrication and reconfiguration of the original single vomitory entry, incorporating new sound and light locks, as well as an expanded and accessible in-house mix and control position. The original audience capacity of 450 was maintained in the updated configuration.

Mills College’s music department has earned international recognition for its historic role in the development of modern and contemporary music, most specifically, electronic music composition, digital media and interdisciplinary performance art. The renovation of the Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall is unique in its support of these programs and their varied technical and artistic requirements.

Audience Chamber

Front and rear orchestra level seating were slightly modified and re-raked to improve ADA compliance and optimized vertical sightlines to the performance platform, which now extends approximately 6’ further into the former audience seating. Renovations of the existing historic chairs focused on re-use of the decorative end panels and modifications for transfer arms, aisle lighting and self-rising seat pans. This allowed the revised seating layout to maintain the existing audience occupancy of 450, while providing improved exiting, wider aisles and an ADA lift to the in-house mix position by the central entrance vomitory.

In addition to previous modifications to the roof that successfully mitigated environmental sound intrusion from over flights out of the Oakland airport, sound intrusion from the lobby into the Concert Hall was addressed in this second renovation phase. This was achieved by creating a sound and light lock in a re-configured central vomitory entry. By closing off the original lobby entry and incorporating a large new raised landing with sets of rated doors, those travelling down the stairs through the vomitory enter a new sound and light lock that leads to new left and right stairs which lead to new left and right lobby entrances. The original central entry was reconfigured into a decorative niche.

Stage

The performance platform, extended approximately 6’ into the existing audience seating, provides greater depth for large ensembles, as well as improved playing area for performance art and site-specific dance events. Other than new flooring, much of the work in this area was cosmetic, focusing on the room’s historic murals and acoustical shaping applied to the flanking walls that had previously been faced with faux stone celotex blocks.

Systems

Minor modifications were made to the existing sound system which continues to be operated from an in-house mix position which was reconfigured and provided with an ADA lift. A new assistive listening system was provided, however. Lighting improvements included architectural and theatrical dimming using a Strand 200 Series 24/48 desk, which is a campus standard. Improved ‘quiet’ dimming now relies on IGBT dimmers for architectural lighting and dimmer sticks for performance/theatrical lighting. Although existing speaker rigging continues to rely on a Skjonberg Controls system, a new roll-down motorized motion picture screen was provided, along with drive system and controls.


	MILLS COLLEGE, JEANNIK MÉQUET LITTLEFIELD CONCERT HALL SAN FRANCISCO, CA, NEW YORK, NY AND MINNEAPOLIS, MN – (August 14, 2009) – Auerbach Pollock Friedlander has completed their work on the renovation of the Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall at Mills College in Oakland, California. The firm collaborated with EHDD Architects on this project, originally designed by architect Walter Ratcliff, Jr in 1928. The Spanish Colonial-style concert hall features Boynton frescoes and murals throughout and the renovation was recognized with a 2009 California Preservation Design Award and a Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture for a Restoration or Preservation from the Society for College and Urban Planning (SCUP) and the American Institute of Architects’ Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE). Prior to the comprehensive renovation of the hall, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander participated in acoustical renovation studies, resulting in the completion of a limited phase one renovation that enclosed the skylit auditorium with a massive roof, new theatrical lighting positions and lay light improvements to eliminate over-flight sound intrusion from the nearby Oakland International Airport. To support the extensive electronic music program at Mills’ renowned Center for Contemporary Music, a motorized speaker rigging system was installed to accommodate multichannel playback and the manipulation of environmental sound within the improved acoustical environment. In 2007, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, returned with the project team for phase two work, enabling the completion of remaining work from the master plan, specifically the acoustical renovation of the audience chamber, expansion of onstage playing area, lighting system augmentation, historic seating re-fabrication and reconfiguration of the original single vomitory entry, incorporating new sound and light locks, as well as an expanded and accessible in-house mix and control position. The original audience capacity of 450 was maintained in the updated configuration. Mills College’s music department has earned international recognition for its historic role in the development of modern and contemporary music, most specifically, electronic music composition, digital media and interdisciplinary performance art. The renovation of the Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall is unique in its support of these programs and their varied technical and artistic requirements. Audience Chamber Front and rear orchestra level seating were slightly modified and re-raked to improve ADA compliance and optimized vertical sightlines to the performance platform, which now extends approximately 6’ further into the former audience seating. Renovations of the existing historic chairs focused on re-use of the decorative end panels and modifications for transfer arms, aisle lighting and self-rising seat pans. This allowed the revised seating layout to maintain the existing audience occupancy of 450, while providing improved exiting, wider aisles and an ADA lift to the in-house mix position by the central entrance vomitory. In addition to previous modifications to the roof that successfully mitigated environmental sound intrusion from over flights out of the Oakland airport, sound intrusion from the lobby into the Concert Hall was addressed in this second renovation phase. This was achieved by creating a sound and light lock in a re-configured central vomitory entry. By closing off the original lobby entry and incorporating a large new raised landing with sets of rated doors, those travelling down the stairs through the vomitory enter a new sound and light lock that leads to new left and right stairs which lead to new left and right lobby entrances. The original central entry was reconfigured into a decorative niche. Stage The performance platform, extended approximately 6’ into the existing audience seating, provides greater depth for large ensembles, as well as improved playing area for performance art and site-specific dance events. Other than new flooring, much of the work in this area was cosmetic, focusing on the room’s historic murals and acoustical shaping applied to the flanking walls that had previously been faced with faux stone celotex blocks. Systems Minor modifications were made to the existing sound system which continues to be operated from an in-house mix position which was reconfigured and provided with an ADA lift. A new assistive listening system was provided, however. Lighting improvements included architectural and theatrical dimming using a Strand 200 Series 24/48 desk, which is a campus standard. Improved ‘quiet’ dimming now relies on IGBT dimmers for architectural lighting and dimmer sticks for performance/theatrical lighting. Although existing speaker rigging continues to rely on a Skjonberg Controls system, a new roll-down motorized motion picture screen was provided, along with drive system and controls.