Fogg Art Museum lecture room: A calibrated recreation of the birthplace of room acoustics

At the end of the 19th century, Wallace Clement Sabine undertook the task of correcting the acoustics of the Fogg Art Museum lecture hall. His work on this acoustically difficult (semi-circular, domed, arched) auditorium was the basis for his monumental work on reverberation time and absorption, beginning the science of room acoustics as it is now known. The room underwent various renovations over 70 years, concluding with its demolition in 1973. Just prior to this event, one author was fortunate to have measured several room impulse responses. Through the use of architectural plans and the few existing photos, a computational room acoustical model was created. This model was calibrated using the historically important measurements as a reference. The geometrical model incorporates the room’s various architectural phases. Using computer auralizations, the room is now accessible in acoustical terms, with the ability to ‘‘perience’’ an educated rendering of the acoustics of the room as Sabine found it in 1895. The results of this study, particularly the geometrical model, are intended for public use and are made generally available for room acoustics students and researchers who chose to follow in Sabine’s footsteps (www.catt.se/FoggArtMusum.htm). Portions of this presentation were presented at Forum Acousticum 2005.