ICELANDIC NATIONAL CONCERT & CONFERENCE CENTRE, REYKJAVÍK
FOURTH HALL PERFORMANCE QUALITIES
THE FOURTH HALL
Uses, Seating Accommodation and Room Geometry
The Fourth Hall is a small, raked-floor space accommodating a variety of events through the use of fixed
and flexible seating and acoustic absorption. The uses of this space include:
 Concert and Recital Hall
 Conferencing
The Fourth Hall must seat 180 people in theater-style in a single large group of seating, on a raked floor.
The first two rows will be on the flat floor at stage level and will be removable to allow for a larger stage
area. The Fourth Hall which satisfies all of the desired uses is a rectangular box measuring 230 square
meters and 8.0 meters high.
If sound and light locks are not readily developed to isolate the room from activities in adjacent corridors or
lobbies, then there must be an allowance for acoustically rated access doors. At least one door must be
double-leaf and adequately sized to allow a grand piano to be moved into the room without lifting it on its
side.
Finish Requirements
The ceiling of the room should have a mixture of acoustically reflective and absorptive materials, to be
determined in coordination with the architects. A curtain zone of approximately 45 cm will be required for
adjustable absorptive curtains. If adjustable curtains are not preferred architecturally, a fixed absorption
solution that is appropriate for both recital and conference use is a possible option. A zone of 25 cm should
be sufficient for fixed absorption in the room. Low-pile carpeting may be considered for the floors, if
desired.
Adjustable Acoustics Elements
A system of manual, heavy velour curtains or banners will be provided to allow the users to reduce the
natural liveness of the space to suit the activity being presented. The systems will be designed to cover the
wall surfaces when extended. Curtain systems will store horizontally into storage pockets to protect them
when not in use; banners will travel vertically into boxes located in the ceiling area.
Accommodations for these systems have been provided by means of 450 mm clear zones in front of each
wall surface. This space should not be used for any other purpose.
Stage
A built-up stage floor will not be necessary since the raked seating will provide the required sightlines. The
stage area may be extended by removing the front two rows of seating.
Fourth Hall Acoustical Information:
Room Volume
Seat Count
1840 m3
All curtains/banners extended
No curtains/banners extended
Fixed absorption option
Strength (Gmid) =
1.2 sec
1.7 sec
1.4-1.6 sec
approx. 3 dB
Clarity (C80,3) = for any given room setting and distribution of sound absorbing curtains extended in the
room, clarity should not vary more than 2 dB over entire seating area.
Technical Equipment and other Requirements
Lighting
A permanent "Production Lighting" system is not required for this room. However, the Architectural
Lighting Control system should be of modest complexity in order to allow for the intelligent control of the
"zoned" architectural lighting fixtures. The control system must provide pushbutton switches for "standard"
lighting configurations (for daily use by maintenance personnel, for example), and a LCD touch screen
panel that is used for control and programming of more complex "looks" (lighting settings). Other features
of the system shall include:
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Programming functions of the architectural control system (at the LCD touch screen) must be
password protected;
System must have connection receptacle ( at LCD touch screen, and at specifically located wall
receptacles) for a remote control unit or small control board;
System must use high rise-time dimmers sufficient to inhibit electrical noise in lighting fixtures;
Architectural lighting fixtures must use lamps with short filaments - long filament lamps create noise
and must not be used.
Rigging
Given the "multipurpose" nature of any conference / convention hall, Artec strongly suggests that a series of
rigging points (permanently connected to the structural beams) be provided in the ceiling of the Fourth Hall.
This accommodation will allow the temporary rigging of trussing for events that require more sophisticated
lighting, sound, and scenic effects. Each point should have a maximum load bearing capacity of at least one
ton.
(*Rigging points may be directly accessible from the Fourth Room floor by motorized man-lift, or by
technical access to the structural beam zone in order to allow direct access to the beams by the riggers.)
Temporary Power
Temporary power for chain lifts, lighting dimmer racks, sound equipment, and other temporary production
equipment, must be provided by Company Switches located in secure electrical closets within the Fourth
Hall, or directly adjacent to the Fourth Hall.
180 (raked fixed seating with removable front two rows on flat-floor stage level)
Reverberation Time (mid frequency, estimated – occupied hall):
ARTEC PROJECT NO. 3760
ARTEC CONSULTANTS INC
12 JUNE 2006
ICELANDIC NATIONAL CONCERT & CONFERENCE CENTRE, REYKJAVÍK
FOURTH HALL PERFORMANCE QUALITIES
Cable Pass-Through System
Temporary cabling, whether from outside the building, from another hall, or from the Fourth Hall electrical
closets, must not interfere with the operation of the facility or create a safety hazard for the guests and user
groups. Additional cable pass-throughs should be incorporated into the Fourth Hall accommodations to
allow for the safe and efficient management of temporary cabling.
Fourth Hall Sound and Communications Systems
SOUND SYSTEMS
Loudspeaker System
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Portable loudspeakers accommodate various room configurations.
Intended primarily for spoken word and music playback.
Ceiling-mounted loudspeakers will act as an announcement source the
room is used as a recital room.
Portable Mixing
Equipment
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Flexible location of mixing console, playback, and signal processing
equipment.
Allows for adjustment of the position of the sound engineer with room
configuration.
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Assistive listening
system
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Amplifies the program of a performance for hearing impaired patrons
via lightweight, wireless infrared headsets.
High quality microphones feed performance audio signal to a series of
infrared emitters located around the hall that transmit audio signal to
headsets.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Intercom system
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Four discrete, assignable channels of communication.
Video System
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Provides closed circuit (CCTV) signals and modulated video (MATV)
signals.
Connection points located throughout the facility.
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Program
monitoring/paging
system
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ARTEC PROJECT NO. 3760
Audio program/paging to technical support areas, dressing rooms, and
offices.
ARTEC CONSULTANTS INC
12 JUNE 2006