Address: 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
Work: KENPAT was contracted to provide the acoustical and specialty ceilings. KENPAT also installed ACM cladding throughout the hall.
General Contractor: Whiting-Turner
Architect: Barton Myers Architect
Dates: April 2017 – August 2022
Awards:
• 2022 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award
• 2022 ABC Central Florida Project of the Year
Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center -
Phase II (Steinmetz Hall)
Situation
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a major attraction in Orlando, Fla. In 2017, a second phase of the Center began, including a new theater designed to have excellent acoustical ratings. Whiting-Turner contracted KENPAT to provide all the acoustical and specialty ceilings of this new theater, located in downtown Orlando’s vibrant arts and culture scene..
Task
KENPAT provided and installed the acoustical and specialty ceilings in the eight-story theater, back-of-house areas and an elegant front lobby. The complex and highly specialized scope required a specially designed, one-of-a-kind metal ceiling system that does not exist in the commodity ceiling marketplace. The ceiling achieved the highest possible acoustical rating, N1.
Action
This project was challenging from the start. The metal ceiling systems were custom-made and not available in catalogs. KENPAT engineered custom suspension details tailored to this venue's unique needs.
KENPAT installed back-of-house rooms and offices using one of five distinct acoustical ceiling systems. At the second-floor landing, a combination of an acoustical system with break metal pieces and floating "cloud" trim enhances the theater’s architectural aesthetic.
The CS-07 ceiling in the main theater was designed using both "hook-on" and torsion spring installation methods. The floating ceiling is composed of nine concentric rings with a two-degree slope and equal spacing between the rings, both above and below. These rings are anchored by the oculus in the center, which functions as a funnel for sound absorption. During installation, KENPAT ensured all metal components were isolated to prevent unwanted sound transmission.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is known for its custom metal ceilings. In Phase 2, KENPAT designed and completed custom ceilings with given parameters. The front-of-house features custom perforated brushed aluminum (CS-25 system) ceilings. All layouts and sizes were finalized through modeling, and KENPAT participated in weekly BIM meetings to coordinate the design.
The front-of-house women's restrooms have a CS-21 hook-on ceiling system supported by threaded rods and feature a custom break-metal mechanical trough in the center, designed and fabricated by KENPAT.
KENPAT showcased its engineering skill by 3D modeling the performing arts center's complex structure, addressing multiple challenges without field-measuring. Despite challenges like access restrictions, inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the COVID-19 pandemic, KENPAT delivered unique acoustical ceilings on time and within budget.
Result
This project is exceptional in its scope. The hall has achieved an N1 sound rating, the lowest level at which humans can detect sound, making it one of the world's most advanced acoustical theaters. Steinmetz Hall has been proclaimed “acoustically perfect,” notably due to the ceiling work. Moreover, Steinmetz Hall is one of the few theaters capable of transforming its shape, seating, and acoustic properties to accommodate a variety of performances, with or without amplification.
For its work on Steinmetz Hall, KENPAT earned the 2022 ABC Central Florida Excellence in Construction Eagle Award and the 2022 ABC Central Florida Project of the Year. Later, Architectural Digest named Steinmetz Hall among its ‘Most Beautiful’ venues, calling it “one of the world’s most acoustically advanced theaters.”
