ACOUSTICS - AUDITORIUM - MUMBAI

1. ACOUSTICS
CASE STUDY
AUDITORIUM
1. Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
2. St. Andrew’s College Auditorium

2. SPACE RELATIONSHIPS

3. • Strong echoes and focusing lead to a non uniform sound level
within the room which is not desirable.
• These features of the auditorium design : scatters, convex (non-
focusing) ,surfaces on balcony fronts, absorption materials,
carpet .
AVOIDANCE OF STRONG ECHOES
AND FOCUSING OF SOUND RAYS
• Intimacy implies a short time between the first reflection of
sound to the ear and the direct sound from the source.
• Sound level of the source needs to be distinctly higher than the
background sound. This promotes good speech intelligibility.
INTIMACY, CLARITY
• This keeps the background noise level down.
• Thick heavy walls and doors help to reduce the background
noise.
• Seals on doors are important .
• It is also important to reduce noise from air handling systems,
walking on floors and also talking outside the room.
REDUCTION OF SOUNDS AND
VIBRATIONS
CONDITIONS FOR GOOD ACOUSTICS IN
AUDITORIUM

4. JAMSHED BHABHA
THEATRE

5. HISTORY
The National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) was envisioned by the late Dr. Jamshed Bhabha as a
bastion to be an upholder of the arts and culture in Mumbai and India. The first, the TATA Theatre, though
stated to have conceptual influences from Welton Becket and Phillip Johnson was essentially designed,
detailed and executed by Rustom Patell, of Patell Batliwala & Associates. Patell a Taliesin fellow and TATA
scholar was at that point in time working on numerous projects for the Bhabha family. The facility thereafter
grew to have numerous theatres, the second large multi-purpose facility being the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre.
Designed by RBJ Patell the theatre was substantially built when an electrical short circuit razed the inside
beyond repair. Re-design and re-construction provided the facility in use today, including a neo-classical
marble stair donated by the Petit family that sits as a frontispiece in the main lobby. The stair itself is a folly
and a piece of art rather than being utilitarian and was removed and re-located with diligent documentation
during removal and re-construction. This theatre follows a more pragmatic shoe-box concept with a
somewhat steep yet regular rake for the seating. Colours and materials received the close eye of Dr. Bhabha
himself. Acoustics saw the influencing ideas of the late Burjor Mistry, a well recognized acoustician in Indian
circles.
• Founder : Dr. Jamshed J Bhabha
• Architect : Philip Johnson and Patel Batliwala Associates
• Year : 1959
• Capacity : 1109 Person
Dr.JamshedJBhabha
Ar.PhilipJohnson

6. LOCATION
Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA,
NCPA Marg, Nariman Point,
Mumbai, Maharashtra

7. SITE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD
• The NCPA complex occupies an area of about 3200m².
• The site can be accessed through 6 gates, the side is divided into 6 major blocks.
• Apart from these, within the site there are parking spaces, A.C. plants, staff quarters
and electric substations.
• The site is located in a commercial area.
• NCPA is surrounded by hotels, malls, offices etc.
• NCPA is 1km away from Churchgate station

8. SITE LAYOUT
The 5 main theatres within
the NCPA complex are:-
1. Tata Theatre
2. Jamshed Bhabha Theatre
3. Godrej Dance Theatre
4. Little Theatre
5. Experimental Theatre
Other than these there are
many more facilities
available within the complex,
like an open air plaza,
gardens, café, library,
teaching and research etc.
There are 6 gates that can be
used to access the site.

9. AUDITORIUM LAYOUT
VIP
Entry
Entrance
Staircase
Foyer
Snacks counter
Toilet
Ticket
Lifts

10. PUBLIC ENTRY/EXIT AND SEATING
 ACCESS
To access the theatre for the
public, there are:
• 6 side doors
• 2 foyer entries
 DOORS
• 2.4 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)
• 7 inch thick
• With panic bars
 MATERIALS
Leather and thick foam
cushioning from the outside
to prevent outside noise into
the theatre and 15cm dense
wood inside.
 SEATING
Seating for 1109 and gets
reduced by the use of:
• Orchestra pit (91 seats)
• In house sound and light
monitor (15 seats)
23+31
12+12+12+12
12+12+12+12
12+12+12+12
12+12+12+12
12+12+12+10
12+12+12+10
4+12+12+12+4
4+12+12+12+4
12+12+12
12+12+12
12+12+12
12+12+12
12+12+12
15+12+15
14+12+14
14+12+14
14+12+14
12+12+12
12+12+12
11+12+11
10+12+10
10+10+10
8+12+8
7+10+7

11. AUDITORIUM INVERTED CEILING PLAN
• Divided into 3 parts the
ceiling in the middle can
double up for the
extended stage or
audience.
• The ceiling of the stage
and the adjacent are laid
at an angle while the
ceiling of the seating area
is suspended 2-3m below
the actual ceiling surface.
• The grid like ceiling is
equipped with centralized
air conditioning system
and lighting fixtures
spread all over covering
the entire seating area.
• In between the grid is
another framework which
holds the false ceiling in
place.

12. STAGE FLOOR PLAN

13. STAGE INVERTED CEILING PLAN

14. SECTION
Chandelier
Stage
Orchestra
Pit
Catwalk
OHT
Auditorium
Toilet
Snack
Counter
Lobby
VIP
Entrance
A.H.U room
Projector
Room

15. BACKSTAGE
 BACKSTAGE ENTRY FOR CREW
MEMBERS
There are 4 entries for artists and
crew members directly to the
backstage of which 1 is from the foyer.
• 2.4 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)
• 3 inch thick.
• 1cm thick leather and foam
cushioning outside and rest is
dense wood inside.
 LOADING/UNLOADING
There are 3 entries directly from
outside for loading/unloading of the
props and instruments.
• 3m (w) x 5.6m (h)
• 2 x wooden doors
• 1 x rolling shutter.
The A.C. compressors are all placed
on the backside of the stage along
with the fire equipment.

16. GREEN ROOM
• Total no. of green rooms = 10
• No. of floors = G+2
• Ground floor – 4 rooms
• 1st floor – 3 rooms
• 2nd floor – 3 rooms
• Sound proof 3inch thick
backstage door to green room
• 2inch thick wooden greenroom
doors
• Each green room has an A.C.
• Each green room has its own
toilet and cupboards
• There are 3 makeup mirrors in
each green room with 6 lights for
each mirror.

17. WALLS
• The panels on the walls around the first three seating rows /
orchestra pit of the auditorium is made of concrete or Plaster of
Paris, with a pointed finish plaster.
• Marble is used for the paneling of the lower portions of the
auditorium.
• The panels above the control booth in the rear of the
auditorium are made of concrete with marble inlays.
• There are hollow projections that come out from the sides of
the auditorium that may act as resonators or anti focusing
surfaces that help in dispersion of sound.
• The rear of the stage has diffusive wooden panels in different
shapes.
• This along with the acrylic banners hung in the ceiling help to
diffuse and reflect sound appropriately into the auditorium.

18. FLOORS AND CATWALKS
 AUDITORIUM
• The material used in the flooring is woolen carpet.
• These woolen carpets are very good absorptive material.
• The carpet is 80% wool and 20% nylon.
 STAGE
• The stage floor is made of hard wood
 CATWALK
• There are 33 Back drops which work on counter balance
system.
• The steel beams in the catwalk are coated with vermicular
coating, hence heat can be absorbed for 5-6 hours.
• There is a catwalk above the seating area for changing and
repairing lights.The intensity of lights can be controlled from
the technical control room.

19. CONTROL ROOM
• Control is divided into three
parts
• The first section was sound
room with another partitioned
channel mixer in the third
room.
• The second section was
projection room and had
different opening sizes for
different types of projectors.
• The third part was light room
which had the additional fire
setup
• The whole control room was air
conditioned and carpet floored

20. CONTROL ROOM

21. ST. ANDREWS
AUDITORIUM

22. HISTORY
• During 1980 much planning was done to study all the aspects to start this college.
• Bandra was chosen for this college because of the Catholic population in this suburb.
• 1st January 1981- inauguration of the new college named as St Andrews College of
arts, commerce and science.
• June 1981- establishing the college and constructing the new building required to
house the college.
• A new Trust, St. Andrew’s Society for Education and Research was created on 10 July
1981.

23. LOCATION
ENTRY
EXIT
AUDITORIUM
ST. ANDREWS COLLEGE,
DOMINIC ROAD,
BANDRA WEST, MUMBAI
ENTRY
EXIT
ST JOSEPHS PRIMARY
SCHOOL
ARYA VIDYA
MANDIR
ST JOSEPHS
CONVENT
HIGH SCHOOL
ANDORA’S
CAFE
HOLY FAMILY
HOSPITAL
AND
RESEARCH
CENTRE
TWO WHEELER PARKING
CANTEEN
BASKETBALL
COURT
PEDESTRIAN
PATHWAY

24. ST ANDREWS AUDITORIUM
• St Andrews Auditorium is regarded as one of its kind in Mumbai.
• St. Andrew's Auditorium stages children's music and theatre, spiritual and devotional
concerts, as well as performances from the Marathi stage.
• It is a fully equipped auditorium. Its infrastructure and amenities make it a popular
choice to organize events in this busy Mumbai suburb.
• It has a total seating capacity of 250 seats, a great lighting grid, wheelchair access,
and ample parking space.

25. PUBLIC ENTRY/EXIT AND SEATING
 ACCESS
To access the theatre for the
public, there are:
• 4 side doors
 DOORS
• 1.7 m (w) x 2.1 m (h)
• 7 inch thick.
 MATERIALS
Leather and thick foam
cushioning from the outside
to prevent outside noise into
the theatre and 15cm dense
wood inside.
 SEATING
Seating for 811
ENTRY/EXIT ENTRY/EXIT
1.5M
1.5M
CANTEEN
CANTEEN

26. INVERTED CEILING PLAN
• 54 CEILING
LIGHTS(YELLOW
CIRCLES)
• 28 BLOWERS (RED
SQUARES)
• 15 SPOT LIGHTS
FOCUSING ON THE
STAGE.
SPOTLIGHTS
AC DUCT VENTS

27. STAGE

28. STAGE
• THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE
GREENS ROOMS FOR GIRLS
AND BOYS EACH WITH
ATTACHED TOILET.
• ONE ROOM IS DIVIDED
INTO 3 USING CURTAINS.
• LONG DRESSING TABLE
THROUGH OUT ONE SIDE
OF THE ROOM WITH 6BULBS
PER MIRROR.
• THE LOADING AND
UNLOADING OF THE
INSTRUMENTES AND PROPS
HAPPENS TO THE RIGHT
SIDE OF THE STAGE.
• NON MOVABLE FINS ON
THE PERIPHERY OF THE
STAGE

29. SECTION