WSDG Walters-Storyk Design Group has recently completed a world-class Music Production & Education Complex for the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music (ZJCM) in Hangzhou, East China.

Housed inside an ultra-modern 8000 sq. ft. two-story building, the new facility features a 3200 sq. ft. Live Room with a 26 ft. high ceiling. It is believed to be one of the world’s largest recording studios dedicated to educational projects, able to host sessions of 100+ member orchestras.

The conservatory’s twelve academic departments provide nearly 5000 full-time students with professional educational programs on composition, conducting, vocal and musical instrument performance, recording, and technology. Completed in 2016, the campus includes nine concert halls, 102 rehearsal halls, 842 practice rooms, and six small studios.

Led by WSDG founding partner John Storyk, and partners Sergio Molho, Renato Cipriano and Silvia Molho the firm’s 50+ member, creative and technical design team contributed to the collaboration. “A project of this scale requires extremely well coordinated design and technical input,” Cipriano said. “Our Basel, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany offices developed sophisticated 3D room modelling and electro acoustical surface predictions which were invaluable in establishing an extraordinary acoustic environment for the large live studio.

Equal attention was devoted to the 650 sq. ft. Control Room, which features a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window view into the live room. Our Latin office provided extremely accurate renderings, our US and Brazil team performed brilliantly on overall design and the creation of innovative acoustic solutions. And, our Miami- based Partner/Art Director Silvia Molho made a major aesthetic contribution with her interior design talents,” he added. “We also developed a noteworthy and cost-effective variable acoustic treatment for the live recording studio. Each of the expansive live room’s four walls was fitted with a 26 foot-long floor-to-ceiling, absorbent curtain hung from heavy-duty, silent, motorised tracks. Deploying these curtains can provide as much as a 50% modification of the room’s average reverberation time.”

“We were committed to providing ZJCM with an outstanding technology package,” said DTM technical director, Johnathan Wang. “For the audio system, we recommended the top-level SSL Duality console and PMC QB1-A flagship monitor speakers as an unparalleled sound system. Considering ZJCM’s ‘World Class’ goals for their new studio exquisite décor details and superb acoustics and isolation design were critical.

“Our collaboration with WSDG has been extremely satisfying,” commented ZJCM deputy dean music engineering department, Mr. Huang Xiaodong. “Their design work was impeccable, their communication with our staff and contractors was exemplary and the acoustic and aesthetic quality of the completed studio complex has met our highest standards.”