Jaffe Holden

Mark Holden and Matt Nichols recently attended the enlightening and informative 60th annual conference for the International Council for Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD) in Montreal. Since 2015, we at Jaffe Holden have been proud members of this extraordinary organization that promotes excellence in arts education and a commitment to fostering leadership within academic arts institutions.

Hosted at Concordia University and McGill University, the event gathered arts leaders to explore key education, leadership, and cultural engagement issues. Jaffe Holden sponsored a fascinating keynote session on Engaging the Arts for Healing, Leading and Being with Dr. Chris Reina (VCU) and Harvard Medical School’s Dr. Lisa Wong. In addition to panel sessions, we enjoyed visits to notable venues like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the McCord Stewart Museum, and immersive experiences at The Phi Centre, a cultural hub in Old Montreal.

We look forward to attending the conference in Santa Fe next year!

Last week, Mark Holden had the distinct privilege of presenting a lecture on acoustic design for performance halls to the students of the Core 3 Integrate Studio at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. The Harvard GSD educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship, with a mission to build a better world that is resilient, just, and beautiful.

Many thanks to Eric Höweler, FAIA, Professor of Architecture and Director of the Master of Architecture I Program, for inviting Mark to present to his class. Eric is co-founding Principal of Höweler+Yoon Architecture, a research-driven, multidisciplinary design studio working between architecture, art, and media. H+Y has a reputation for work that is technologically and formally innovative, and deeply informed by human experience and a sensitivity to tectonics.

Learn more about the program here: https://www.gsd.harvard.edu/

The Schoenecker Center at the University of St. Thomas heralds a new era in STEAM education, fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. This expansive 130,000 SF facility is designed to encourage interaction among students and faculty from different fields, integrating innovative labs, flexible workspaces, and areas dedicated to the arts and engineering, all aimed at providing a holistic educational experience.

The integration of sophisticated acoustical solutions ensures that various educational and performance activities can occur simultaneously without interference, making the center an ideal space for innovative, hands-on education that prepares students for real-world challenges.

Read more about the project here: https://www.jaffeholden.com/resources/blog/

Attending Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) in Minneapolis next month? We'll see you at the sold-out tour of the Schoenecker Center on October 21st!

Design Architect: RAMSA | Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Architect of Record: BWBR
Acoustic Banner Manufacturer: Wenger Corporation

Take a look inside the Field Arts & Events Hall, the first of three structures dedicated to arts, culture, and science at the Port Angeles Waterfront Center, situated on the beautiful coastal Olympic Peninsula by Puget Sound in Washington. Positioned as a cultural focal point rooted in the city's natural splendor, it introduces a fresh performing arts venue and community space along the waterfront, aiming to support various local arts organizations and enrich Port Angeles' creative community.

Jaffe Holden provided acoustic design services on the project, including adjustable acoustic elements that enable the room's transformation from a recital hall into a theater to serve the wide-ranging events, festivals, and music ensembles that will take place at the venue.

"The jewel of Field Arts & Events Hall is the 500-seat theater."
-Steven Raider-Ginsburg, Executive and Artistic Director, Port Angeles Field Arts & Events Hall

Architect: LMN Architects
Theater Consultant: The Shalleck Collaborative

Field Arts & Events Hall LMN Architects in collaboration with Strange Life Productions interviews the team behind the Field Arts & Events Hall. Field Arts & Events Hall, the first…

The Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center in Detroit celebrated its grand opening last week with a vibrant mix of live jazz performances featuring local and international artists. This new state-of-the-art venue at Wayne State University, named after the late jazz patron Gretchen Valade, aims to honor Detroit's deep-rooted jazz heritage while fostering future musical innovation.

"The center features three distinct spaces for events. The Detroit Jazz Hall seats 325 and was designed and tuned acoustically, for jazz, by Mark Holden and his firm Jaffe Holden. Downstairs the intimate Dee Dee Bridgewater’s, named after the Grammy Award-winning singer who began her career in Flint, Mich., can hold 120 in a club setting, with an attached Detroit Jazz Festival Cafe for spillover. Upstairs is a VIP-style lounge, named for Chris Collins by a benefactor, that will host intimate performances and other gatherings."

“This was built with jazz in mind, but it doesn’t have to be jazz to be in there,” explains Chris Collins, the university’s Gretchen C. Valade Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies and the President and Artistic Director of the Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation. “It’s a variable place. The idea is to encourage and help facilitate artists from all over, in different genres, to create, to integrate, to consider — maybe even to investigate the jazz world.”

The opening of the Valade Jazz Center marks a new era for Detroit's cultural landscape, inviting residents and visitors to experience the dynamic world of jazz in the heart of the city.

Read more about the project here: https://venuesnow.com/new-venue-jazzes-up-wayne-state/

Design Architect: HGA
Architect of Record: Hamilton Anderson Associates
Theater Consultant: Apeiro Design
Acoustic and AV Design: Jaffe Holden

Image c/o Shawn Wright / Wayne State University

Today we remember the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001, and we honor the memory of the victims and first responders as well as the families and communities that were impacted. While these memories are unimaginably difficult to revisit, we understand the importance of having a designated space that documents the impact of the events of 9/11, explores their continued significance, and memorializes the legacy of those who lost their lives.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located in the heart of the World Trade Center site, tells the story of 9/11 through multimedia displays, archives, narratives, and a collection of artifacts. Jaffe Holden worked closely with the design team to maintain open access for visitors in the historical exhibition while also providing privacy and intimacy in alcoves displaying sensitive stories. We tuned soundscapes prior to the opening, ensuring proper sound levels, sound spread, and tonal quality for more than 20 audio programs throughout the museum, and we consulted on the story booth exhibit area where patrons can record their personal experiences. We continue our work with the museum and revisit regularly to re-tune and inspect the museum to ensure its acoustic success.

It is our hope that our work lends itself to an institution that can be therapeutic and healing to all those who visit this space for many years to come.

Learn more about the museum at www.neverforget.org

Cultural projects like the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia are a true source of pride for our firm, especially when they set the stage for historic events like tonight's presidential debate. The NCC is a strikingly modern addition to historic downtown Philadelphia, emphasizing the museum’s message about the contemporary relevance of the United States Constitution.

In the museum, visitors first encounter the multimedia program “Freedom Rising” in the Kimmel Theater. The program features a state-of-the-art audio system that creates stereo imaging and surround sound effects throughout a 360-degree environment. The main exhibit gallery, The American Experience, utilizes over 100 media elements to develop the themes in the Constitution’s preamble. Sound absorptive finishes and specialty audio components tailor the experience of each exhibit and balance the overall gallery soundscape.

Our work in Philadelphia over the years has also included the National Museum of American Jewish History and the Benjamin Franklin Museum, among countless others.

Read more about the NCC's history of high-profile events on their website: https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-to-host-2024-abc-news-presidential-debate

Our priority with every design is to inspire sensory experiences. The audience should hear the music at the utmost quality, they should see the visually stunning designs we use to create the necessary acoustic treatments, and they should feel the sound resonating within themselves.

Read more about how Jaffe Holden helps performing arts facilities achieve the highest standard of acoustic and audio/video design for a project on our website: https://www.jaffeholden.com/blog/inspiring-sensory-experiences-through-acoustic-and-audio-video-design/

Image courtesy of Blake Brown | Oregon State PRAx

The David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, a key venue for the New York City Ballet, has significantly upgraded its communication systems with Clear-Com technology. These enhancements are crucial for hosting events like last week's 2024 Tony Awards.

Originally built in 1964, the theatre continues to modernize its infrastructure to maintain its status as a premier performing arts venue, thanks to substantial philanthropic support and cutting-edge technological advancements.

Jaffe Holden's acoustic design for this project has continued to stand the test of time, with past recommendations that included enlarging the orchestra pit to increase the acoustic presence of the orchestra and improve balance and communication between the orchestra and performers, modifying the stage apron, covering the seats in new material with optimal acoustic characteristics, and designing an attractive and acoustically reflective fire curtain to create a more flexible performance space.

Our team also recommended the installation of new acoustic side walls near the theater’s proscenium to provide early reflectors and increased presence, as well as quieting the existing and newly installed HVAC systems and lighting. Using sophisticated design techniques and computer simulations, we upgraded and modernized important elements in the theater to enhance the artistic experience for opera and ballet audiences and performers alike.

David H. Koch Theatre upgrades with Clear-Com The online home of Light & Sound International - the entertainment technology monthly. Daily News, Video Hub, Events Listings, Marketplace, Recruitment.

The newly renovated Town Hall in Seattle features enhanced acoustics such as a "bass-trap" and a sound-directing canopy, resulting in a rich, resonant sound environment. This renovation marks a significant achievement for the hall, promising an excellent future for live classical music in Seattle.

"The respected acoustical firm of Jaffe Holden, who were consultants for the McCaw Opera House, came up with the canopy and bass-trap solution. Russ Cooper, the acoustical designer on the Town Hall project, praises the resulting sound as 'lovely' and describes Town Hall as 'pretty unique.' Cooper says the best seats at Town Hall are close to the side walls or up front."

Read more about the project in this informative article from Post Alley!

Acoustic Lessons from the Renovated Town Hall (And a New String Quartet to Show it Off) The newly renovated Town Hall Seattle revealed excellent acoustics for live performance of music. That means we now have three such venues.

In today’s digital age, the term “immersive experience” has become increasingly prevalent, but its true meaning often gets lost in the buzz. At its core, immersive experience refers to the audio/video technology that deeply engages our senses, transporting us to new realms and enhancing our experiences. It is about more than just surround sound or high-definition visuals; it is the art of designing environments that envelop and captivate us, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Visit our website to learn how an immersive experience could be the key to expanding your audience and driving foot traffic, publicity, and ticket sales. With audio/video systems that are designed to be flexible enough to accommodate new, fresh programming over time, even a small investment can be a boon to a college campus, performing arts facility, museum, or cultural institution.

“Immersive design means different things to different people,” said Benjamin Bausher, Associate Principal of Audio/Video at Jaffe Holden. “Defining the requirements of the design requires knowledge of the underlying technologies regarding the varied aspects of this part of the AV trade. Having the right guidance through the process will result in the best project delivery for the project’s stakeholders.”

Immersive Experiences Demystified: What Makes Them Work? - Jaffe Holden In today’s digital age, the term “immersive experience” has become increasingly prevalent, but its true meaning often gets lost in the buzz. At its core, immersive experience refers to the audio/video technology that deeply engages our senses, transporting us to new realms and enhancing our ex...

Jaffe Holden's Ben Bausher and Steve Schlaseman sat down recently with Bryan Reesman on behalf of Lighting and Sound America to talk about our acoustic and audio/video design for the Paulson Center at New York University, a 735,000 SF multi-use facility that encompasses an entire city block in Manhattan.

Check out the latest edition of the magazine here: https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=Lighting%20and%20Sound%20America&edid=d7389238-bcee-47a7-b48b-cd3f07bff948

We are glad to share the excitement surrounding this latest development at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts!

"The revitalization plan entails first a radical overhaul of Damrosch Park, which will be transformed into a dynamic new outdoor area for artistic performance and public gatherings.

The design will take shape in response to a participatory planning process that drew the opinions of over 3,400 New Yorkers and surviving former residents of San Juan Hill, the neighborhood that was demolished to make way for the 14-year urban renewal that made room for Lincoln Center in the late-50s and early-60s.

'As the largest African American-owned architecture firm in the country, we are deeply committed to community-driven design and engagement, and it’s a privilege to collaborate with Lincoln Center on this transformative project,' Moody Nolan's CEO Jonathan Moody added. 'By harnessing the power of collective insight and embracing the diverse perspectives of the surrounding community, we aim to reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue side of campus to ensure it not only reflects the vibrancy of the city but also serves as a welcoming space for all, resonating with the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility that defines our practice and our values.'"

Moody Nolan
Weiss/Manfredi
Hood Design Studio
Theatre Projects

Weiss/Manfredi, Hood Design Studio, and Moody Nolan to design new Amsterdam Avenue enhancements at Lincoln Center The new Amsterdam Avenue face of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will be designed by a team that includes Weiss/Manfredi, Hood Design Studio, and Moody Nolan, the beloved New York City cultural institution announced Monday. The revitalization plan entails first a radical overhaul of...

Oregon State University unveiled the Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) this weekend, giving visitors a first look at the center’s inaugural exhibits. PRAx revolutionizes the university's creative landscape, providing a dynamic hub for artistic expression, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

With cutting-edge facilities and resources, the center aims to empower students, faculty, and the broader community to explore the boundaries of artistic disciplines. This ambitious endeavor reflects OSU's commitment to nurturing creativity and fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem on campus and beyond.

We can't wait to share more about our acoustic and AV design services for this project!

Longwood Gardens has announced opening dates for the various parts of its $250M expansion project that's been more than three years in the making, marking a significant milestone in its "Longwood Reimagined" initiative.

The first elements of the 17-acre Longwood Gardens expansion will open this spring, and the new West Conservatory will open on November 22nd, offering visitors an immersive experience surrounded by rare and exotic plants, meticulously curated displays, and architectural brilliance. It will serve as both a sanctuary for horticulture enthusiasts and a living laboratory for education and conservation efforts.

Your New Garden Experience Awaits In 2021, we started our most ambitious expansion, reimagination, and preservation of our Conservatory and surrounding landscape in a century with Longwood Re...

Unlock your potential and transform your passion into a rewarding career in the AEC industry! Tune in live to this virtual event hosted by Stambaugh Ness where Jaffe Holden's own Matt Nichols will discuss how his background in music led to a fulfilling career as an acoustician.

Join us on Tuesday morning for inspiration, insights, and practical strategies to pursue your dreams. Don't miss out on this opportunity to ignite your professional journey!

www.linkedin.com

We had a great time participating in the SCUP Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference earlier this month. Here is Steve Schlaseman touring the new Bloomberg Center at Johns Hopkins University - a project we had the privilege of working on with Ennead Architects, Rockwell Group, SmithGroup, Fisher Dachs Associates, Theatre Planning and Design, and Meyer Sound.

Stay tuned for a look behind the scenes of this project coming soon!

“'We are excited about the opportunity to partner with TPAC and the state to develop a new home for this important cultural institution on Nashville’s East Bank,' said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. 'A new performing arts center that offers a variety of entertainment and educational opportunities is exactly the type of development all Nashvillians can get excited about.'

TPAC serves as a critical champion for arts, culture and education in Nashville and is a major market for touring productions and world-renowned artists. A new state-of-the-art performance facility on the East Bank will support increased Broadway events; performances by TPAC residential companies, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera and Nashville Repertory Theatre; and educational programming."

Planning Begins for TPAC's New Home Tennessee Performing Arts Center® (TPAC) and Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metro) announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the planning of a new performing arts center on the East Bank.

Automated systems enhance acoustics for a wide range of performances, saving time and improving repeatability. With optimal acoustics achieved swiftly and easily, artists and operations staff can focus on their creative evolution rather than the mundane tasks that once required excessive time and physical effort.

Click through the carousel below and read more about acoustic automation on our website: https://www.jaffeholden.com/blog/harmonizing-spaces-labor-cost-saving-through-acoustic-automation-for-performing-arts-venues/

As Black History Month comes to a close, we would like to shine a light on a culturally significant project that was completed last year and featured in The New York Times, The African Grove Theater at New York University’s new John A. Paulson Center.

“The original African Theater was started in 1816 by William Alexander Brown, a retired ship steward who started hosting music, poetry and short plays for Black New Yorkers in his backyard at 38 Thomas Street. The entertainment “tea garden” became known as the African Grove, one of the few spaces where Black patrons could enjoy leisure arts.

The new theater is a ‘space where we celebrate another tradition in the culture of New York City that has often been disregarded and overlooked and not understood,’ said Michael Dinwiddie, an associate professor at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, who is also a theater historian and co-chair of the Committee to Commemorate the African Grove. ‘This was a theater that in its early time, was really creating a model for what the American theater could be. And that’s what we want the modern African Grove Theater to be.'”

KieranTimberlake // Davis Brody Bond, a Page Company // Fisher Dachs Associates, Theatre Planning and Design

NYU Names New Performance Space After Nation's First Black Theater - Jaffe Holden New York University has named one of its newest performance spaces at the John A. Paulson Center, “The African Grove Theater,” in honor of the first Black theater in the United States. This announcement comes right in time for Juneteenth, a federal holiday on June 19th commemorating the emancipa...

"New York-based studios Ennead Architects and Rockwell Group have completed the renovation of an academic building for Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC with 'floating' classrooms at its core.

Called the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, the 435,000-square-foot building will serve as an interdisciplinary educational and event centre for the university and the public.

Located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, the 10-story building was designed to evoke a 'democratic society,' with a large central atrium that contains conference and classrooms seemingly suspended in its core. A central staircase doubles as seating and sits at the base, while multiple floors span upwards and contain a number of classrooms and event spaces.”

Ennead Architects and Rockwell Group create "floating" classrooms for Johns Hopkins University Ennead Architects and Rockwell Group create "floating" classrooms for Johns Hopkins University Share: Ellen Eberhardt 2 days ago Leave a comment New York-based studios Ennead Architects and Rockwell Group have completed the renovation of an academic building for Johns Hopkins University in Washingto...

"Following a national design competition, the Bruce Museum embarked on a journey to revitalize its campus to carry the institution into the future. Following the competition, the design team led a rigorous initial programming study to dig deep into the needs of the museum and support its ability to serve as a community resource.

The resulting project is a comprehensive renovation of the existing museum’s 32,500 SF structure along with a 42,000 SF addition, providing permanent and changing gallery space, expanded collection storage, and a new public entrance lobby and lecture hall for the museum. Comprising three floors, the expansion more than doubles the existing area of the facility and creates a welcoming visitor experience with clear circulation, generous galleries, and sufficient exhibition, storage, and archival spaces for the Museum’s growing collection."

Eskew Dumez Ripple

Bruce Museum / Eskew+Dumez+Ripple The Bruce Museum is a regional cultural institution located in Greenwich, Connecticut with a multi-disciplinary collection and exhibition program...

Big things are happening in Cleveland!

"The city is planning an ambitious downtown lakefront makeover designed in part to reduce the relative isolation of North Coast Harbor and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, one of the city’s biggest attractions.

The 28-year-old museum, which attracts roughly half a million visitors and says it contributes $250 million in economic impact annually, said Tuesday that it will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on October 5 for a sizable new expansion that will increase its footprint by a third.

Site work will begin by November, followed by the excavation of vertical shafts for caissons extending more than 100 feet deep through layers of lakefront landfill. The caissons will support a 50,000-square-foot expansion designed by New York-based PAU, the Practice for Architecture and Urbanism."

Rock Hall schedules Oct. 5 groundbreaking for $135 million-plus expansion as precursor to city’s lakefront makeover The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's groundbreaking for an expansion on October 5 could l lead a new wave of planned downtown Cleveland lakefront projects.