LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Lugano, Switzerland

Object Type
Concert Halls
Theatres

Client
Città du Lugano, Dicastero del Territorio

Architects
Ivano Gianola, Mendrisio

Completion
2015

Expertises
Building Acoustics
Sound Isolation
Room Acoustics
Acoustic Measurements

Located directly on the lake, Lugano‘s new cultural center LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura both houses the Museo d‘Arte della Svizzera italiana and a first-rate theater and concert hall which can be used for a great variety of events. Moreover, the LAC also includes various small halls and thus offers artists sufficient space to experiment.

In close collaboration, architect Gianola and the acoustics consultants of Müller-BBM Building Solutions succeeded in combining architectural elements and technical measures to perfection. The result: excellent acoustics. The modern hall seating up to 1,000 can be converted from a concert hall for large symphonic orchestras into a theater hall for drama, opera and ballet performances – the orchestra pit then accommodates up to 75 musicians – with perfect acoustics for the respective type of event. For classical music concerts, an orchestra shell is mounted on stage, extending the auditorium and increasing the acoustically effective volume to a maximum of 10,000 m³. During drama performances, the reverberation time is adjusted as needed by means of variable and acoustically effective curtains.

The acoustical design also included all measures necessary to protect the auditorium against external noise and to ensure an unrestricted simultaneous use of all LAC rooms.

Image Copyright
1 LAC 2015 – Studio Pagi
2 LAC 2015 – Studio Pagi
3 LAC 2015 – Studio Pagi