Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH) is not only an internationally recognized architectural landmark, but a gorgeous sight in downtown Los Angeles. Designed by Frank Gehry, the WDCH is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. While in LA for the AES 137th Convention 2014 I had the opportunity to peak inside. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to the Concert Hall, and was not around long enough to attend a performance, so my visit was purely a visual experience.
Reverberation time within the concert hall is approximately two seconds while occupied. During the construction of WDHC, Acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota performed acoustic tests on a 1/10th scale model. “Everything had to be reduced by the same amount, which required the frequency of sounds be increased tenfold to reduce the wavelength to a tenth of normal, and the model was filled with nitrogen to expel the oxygen and water vapor that absorb high-frequency sounds. Testing was considered dangerous since no one could breathe in the oxygen-deficient model.”
BP Hall is located just above the lobby of Walt Disney Concert Hall. All pre-performance events are hosted in this gorgeous, unique hall.
I wish I could have experienced a performance in either of the halls, but it’s just another reason to return!
