Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction of six halls in the city of Mar del Plata

Roberto Daniel Ottobre, Marcelo Ottobre, Agustín Arias, et al.

Citation: Proc. Mtgs. Acoust. 28, 015025 (2016); doi: 10.1121/2.0000482

View online: https://doi.org/10.1121/2.0000482
View Table of Contents: https://asa.scitation.org/toc/pma/28/1
Published by the Acoustical Society of America

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Volume 28 http://acousticalsociety.org/

22nd International Congress on Acoustics

Acoustics for the 21st Century
Buenos Aires, Argentina
05-09 September 2016

Architectural Acoustics: Paper ICA2016 - 313

Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

of six halls in the city of Mar del Plata
Roberto Daniel Ottobre, Marcelo Ottobre, Agustín Arias
Ottobre y Ottobre Arquitectos, Asesores en Acústica, CABA, Argentina; arq.daniel@ottobreyottobre.com.ar;
arq.marcelo@ottobreyottobre.com.ar; agustinarias@ottobreyottobre.com.ar
María Pérez Maraviglia, Oscar Cañadas
Estudio Mariani Perez Maraviglia, Mar del Plata, Argentina, estudio@marianiperezmaraviglia.com;
oacanadas@gmail.com

Six cinema halls with capacities from 150 to 310 seats in a shopping promenade were built in the city of
Mar del Plata, Argentina. The architects of this project were Mariani, Pérez Maraviglia and Oscar
Cañadas. The employer of the project was Florencio Aldrey Iglesias, who has a long and recognized
experience both locally and nationally. The place chosen by the company was the former terminal bus
station in the city, maintaining the main building but reorganizing spaces and functions. In the terminal
area, a new building of the shopping promenade has been built including the six cinema halls on the
highest floor. The client asked the acoustical consultants to provide excellent acoustical quality,
complemented by the latest technology equipment, including the new Atmos format of the Dolby
Laboratories Inc. Starting from these premises, the following tasks were carried out: a sound insulation
project; a HVAC systems project in strict accordance with the acoustic requirements, and an acoustic
design project using simulation model. The projects with the construction details, the acoutsic simulation
executed on software and the measurements in the halls are presented.

Published by the Acoustical Society of America

© 2017 Acoustical Society of America [DOI: 10.1121/2.0000482]

Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Vol. 28, 015025 (2017) Page 1
R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

1. INTRODUCTION
It is common to find cinema halls that do not meet the appropriate parameters. In Argentina
such cinema halls are seen in many multiplexes, skimping materials during the construction
works. The city of Mar del Plata hosts the film festival at which productions from around the
world are presented. In 2015, films were screened in the hall complex "Paseo Aldrey," called as
the new promenade built in the city. It was therefore necessary to design the halls with
appropriate technical framework due to the importance of the festival.
Moreover, in recent years there has been a paradigm shift in relation to the film format. The
film production exclusively uses digital systems. This means a great simplification of production
processes and thus reducing costs1. With regard to sound, the digital system implies an increase
in the dynamic range since extra audio compression processes disappear. In addition to the usual
recommendations for sound insulation and acoustic conditions in this type of hall, one of the
halls must have the surround sound system Dolby ATMOS 2 . The performance of building
systems was needed to be optimized to get the best sound condition of the halls in a framework
of economical requirement and short deadlines.
There were three premises: 1) Sound Reduction Index R’w of 70 dB between the halls; 2)
noise profile of NC 25, mainly caused by HVAC systems3; and 3) reverberation time as flat as
possible, around 0.5 s in the larger halls and about 0.4 s in the smaller ones, 4 for the
intelligibility5. The acoustic project was initiated from agreements with members of the study of
Architecture, followed by verification by simulation models, continuous monitoring on site, and
confirmation by measurements at the end of each task.

2. SOUND INSULATION
The sound insulation design took into account of previous experiments carried out by
acoustic consultants and recommendations of Saint-Gobain. As shown in Figure 1, the halls have
surface contacts with each other. Moreover the two central halls (called Sala 3 and Sala 4) have
contacts with the machine room.
A typical problem in a cinema hall is the mechanical transmission through the partitions,
floors, and ceilings due to low frequency sound energy generated by the of movie reproduction
system. The first guideline of insulation was to keep all joints with anti-vibration material and
make a floating floor. This structure was raised over the existing slab as shown in Figure 2.
Several kinds of vertical partitions were used6 in the halls. The partitions between the halls
were designed to realize the Sound Reduction Index R’w of 70 dB (Figure 3). An internal air gap
was not designed due to the required width for the circulation areas. This partition was designed
from a structural profile for the support of all the facing, with its highest point at 9 m. The
galvanized sheet structure holds the gypsum boards and was mounted on these main profiles,
using three of each side and the last being varied in stiffness and weight of the material. Inside
the partition, glass wool with a total thickness of 200 mm was installed, surrounding the metal
columns which support the complex.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

1
+20.90 3

6 6 6 6 6 6 6

1 SALA 2 SALA 2 SALA 2 SALA 2 SALA 1

1
6 5 4 2 1

1 3 1 3 1 1 3 1 3 1

Figure 1: Plan of the cinema halls and the engine room.

100

Polyethylene thk. 100 microns

Carpet acc. to project
Distribution armor
Slab 7cm
PF Panel thk. 20mm
Levelling carpet
Slab

15

Figure 2. Cross section of the floating floor

Structural profile

Knauf Diamant
board thk. 15mm

Two gypsum rock

boards thk. 12.5mm
Glass wool
thk. 100mm 5kg/m3
Glass wool
thk. 50mm 35kg/m3

Support + Sealant
Knauf elastic band
Figure 3. Cross-section of the hall partition.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

Structural profile

Glass wool
thk. 100mm 35kg/m3

Knauf Diamant
board thk. 15mm
Two gypsum rock
boards thk. 12.5mm
Glass wool
thk. 100mm 35kg/m3

Andina
Isoacoustic board

Glass wool
thk. 50mm 35kg/m3
Glass wool
thk. 100mm 35kg/m3

Figure 4. Cross-section of the partition walls and the ceiling.

Structural profile

Fiberglass thk.
100mm 35kg/m3
Two gypsum boards
thk. 12.5mm
Cementitious
board thk. 15mm
Concrete block
9x19x39
Glass wool thk.
100mm 35 kg/m3
Perforated metal sheet
Aluminum frame
Glass wool
thk. 50mm 35 kg/m3
Perforated metal sheet

Glass wool thk.

100mm 35 kg/m3

Figure 5. Cross-section of the partition between the hall and the engine room.

A similar configuration was used for the closing walls to the emergency exits as well as the
projection room, reducing the thickness of the glass wool and the gypsum boards. It realized the
index R’w of 55 dB.
For ceilings, a casing composed of gypsum boards with a 100 mm thick glass wool was
chosen, expecting the index R’w of 55 dB. The sound absorbing ceiling is supported by this set of
materials, as shown in Figure 4.
Finally, the most critical insulation was designed for the halls adjacent to the machine room.
A concrete block wall was built to increase the insulation since the noise level from the machine
rises above 85 dBA, characterized as tonal noise in the 250 Hz octave-band. In addition, the
noise increases with the passage of time due to unbalanced turbines and bearing wear. As shown

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

in Figure 5, the wall was completed with the addition of "half linings" composed of gypsum
boards on each side, expecting the index R’w greater than 70 dB.

3. ACOUSTIC TREATMENT OF THE CINEMA HALLS

According to preferences of the architectural and acoustical designers, various surface
materials were selected to obtain both an optimum reverberation time and an appropriate sound
field. Computer simulation were performed by using the software E.A.S.E. (Enhanced Acoustic
Simulator for Engineers), incorporating the rooms geometry and the materials chosen.
Ceiling panels of rigid glass wool with black veil were installed on rooftops. These boards
have 20 mm thickness and dimensions of 610 x 610 mm or 610 x 1210 mm. To avoid an excess
sound absorption at high frequencies, gypsum boards of 9.5 mm thickness with the dimensions
equal to the glass wool boards were added. They were placed in a checkerboard-style, i.e. not
covering the entire ceiling, from the fourth row of the audience area to the back of the halls.
Thus, a strongly absorbed surface was mounted for the first reflection, according to the
recommendation for this type of halls. Figure 6 shows the configuration used. A layer of glass
wool (supported on a metal grid) with 100 mm thickness and a density of 35 Kg/m3 was placed
inside the air chamber behind the ceiling, at a distance of 200 mm. Thus, a low frequency trap
was set up to provide absorption near the 80 Hz band.
On the side walls, membrane resonators were designed for the absorption at middle and low
frequencies. They are composed of a plywood board from 6 to 8 mm thickness with a surface
density of 4.5 kg/m2. This material is placed alternately in modules on both walls. In addition,
modules of 50 mm thick and 50 kg/m3 density glass wool were added on each wall. Their face
was covered with cotton fabric with flame retardant and anti-acarus treatment. Then, modules
compounds of the same cotton fabric were added in an interleaved with the resonators, leaving a
rear air gap of 100 mm. The combination of these three coatings is shown in Figure 7. The rest of
the surfaces correspond to the partition for the insulation.

Figure 6. Distribution of materials on the ceiling.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

Screen  Fiberglass Acustiver P 500  Cotton fabric

50050(Isover) algodón s/sobre

 Two plates of gypsum rock

 Membrane resonator
membrana
Figure 7. Distribution of materials on the walls.

A. ACOUSTIC PARAMETERS
The following acoustic parameters were calculated for each room: reverberation time (Eyring
and Schroeder); spatial distribution of sound pressure level; speech intelligibility (%ALCons and
STI); clarity (C50) index for speech and its frequency response. To perform these analyses, the
software E.A.S.E. was used.

B. SIMULATIONS RESULTS
The results for the Hall 3 are presented below. These results are representative and similar to
those of the other halls. Figure 8 shows the values for the Eyring reverberation time with the
lines of tolerance range. The values at mid-frequencies are about 0.5 s with slight deviations at
low frequencies. The exceeding values at the lower frequencies are corrected by the bass traps as
explained in Section 3, although the software does not provide accurate results in that frequency
range. These results indicate that the reverberation time in each frequency band is close to the
recommendation.
To evaluate the other parameters, the chosen loudspeakers were installed in the simulation
model, considering its directivity and real sound power level. The loudspeakers of the brand
QSC are used in all halls, precisely the "Stage SC-323" model for the L-C-R system and the "Sub
SB-5218" model used as subwoofer. Figure 9 shows the results of the %ALCons to quantify the
degree of speech intelligibility. The values calculated are below 3% which classifies the
intelligibility throughout the halls as "excellent".

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

Figure 8. Eyring reverberation time calculated (Hall 3).

Figure 9. ALCons calculated (Hall 3).

Then, an evaluation of reflections by geometrical acoustics model was performed on various

listening positions throughout the audience area in each hall. In total 700000 rays were emitted
from each of the sound sources. The reflections were analyzed discretely with the addition of a
statistical decay tail that allows obtaining other acoustic parameters of interest. Figure 10 shows
the reflectgram at the seat 3 (row 11, at 2 m from the central axis of the hall).

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

Figure 10. Reflectogram at seat 3 (Hall 3).

The distribution of reflections is homogeneous in all the reflectograms and there are no
unwanted echoes or extreme colorations represented by late reflections with significant energy
content above the reverberant tail.
The frequency responses calculated at each of the seats show that the spectral content is
uniform over all the frequency range under analysis and there are no significant colorations.
Figure 11 shows the result for the seat 3.

Figure 11. Frequency response at seat 3. Hall 3.

Then reverberation times were analyzed by the Schroeder’s method to evaluate variations in
different listening positions. Figure 12 shows there is a good correspondence between the two
calculation methods, with some variations that suggest that the reverberation time turns out to be
slightly higher than that obtained with the statistical method (Eyring), due to the addition of the
statistical tail.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

Figure 12. Reverberation times (Eyring – Schroeder) at seat 3 (Hall 3).

Several visits were made during the construction process to verify the project's compliance
and to perform some measurements. It was necessary to evaluate the acoustic insulation
according to the relevant regulations. It was also necessary to verify the characteristics of the
sound fields once the surface materials were installed. The background noise was also measured.
For these purposes the measurements were made using a sound level meter 01 dB Metravib
model "Solo", connected to a computer with the dBBatti32 V5.2 software of the same company.

C. INSULATION BETWEEN HALLS

An evaluation of the sound insulation for the division masonry (wall) between the Hall 2 and
Hall 3 was performed. The evaluation procedure followed the Argentine standard IRAM 4063-4
(corresponding to ISO 140-4) 7 . The apparent sound insulation index is plotted in Figure 13,
verifying the target value R’w 70 dB for the insulation between halls.

D. BACKGROUND NOISE AND REVERBERATION TIME

In October 2015 the background noise with the HVAC systems and the reverberation time of
the Hall 4 were measured to test the final stage of the acoustic design. Figure 14 shows the photo
of the hall during these measurements.
With the air conditioning system in operation, the background noise levels in octave bands
correspond to NC-25 profile recommended in IRAM 40708. The hall meets the requirements of
the signal-to-noise ratio recommended for movie reproduction. Note that these values were
obtained under unoccupied condition. In the case of air conditioning system off, the room
satisfied the NC-20 profile.
The background noise levels under unoccupied condition, fulfilled an extensive list of
recommendations made by the acoustics consultants and proved a great work done by the
members in charge of the installation of the HVAC system. The main recommendations were:
making ducts covered with glass wool; independent and separated equipment and branches for
each hall; injection speed below 1 m/s; inserting an acoustic filter in feed and return ducts to
minimize the difference between the noise generated and that radiated in the first outlet; and
finally the anti-vibration mount for all system components. Above all the things, the wills of the
employer, the project architects, installers and builders should be highlighted for complying with
all the requirements.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

In situ Measurement of sound insulation between rooms

Apparent sound reduction index R’ dB

Octave-band frequency [Hz]

Figure 13. Sound insulation index according to IRAM 4063-4.

Figure 14. Interior of the Hall 4 during the measurements.

The reverberation time were measured at eight positions in the hall. An average at each
position and a global spatial average of the room were performed to avoid problems caused by
local colorations or by local modes at the measurement points in each case. The measurements

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

procedure followed ISO 33829. Figure 15 shows the comparison between the spatially-averaged
reverberation time and the simulations for Hall 4.
Finally, the evaluation of the reverberation time shows that the objective has been achieved.
It is worth considering the fact that elevation of 0.1 s in the reverberation time at 315 Hz is
associated with the resonances produced by the access to the room below the level of the seats.
Also the bass trap behind the ceiling worked for the frequencies below 60 Hz.

Reverberation
Tiempos Time
de Reverberación
Comparison
0.7

0.6
time [s]

0.5
de reverberación
Reverberation

0.4 Simulado
Simulated

0.3 Promedio
Average
Tiempo

0.2

0.1

0
125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 4000 5000 6300 8000
Frecuencia por bandas de 1/3
Octave-band de octava[Hz]
frequency [Hz]

Figure 15. Comparison of the reverberation times between the spatial-average and the simulation for Hall
4.

4. CONCLUSIONS
The acoustic insulation performance highlighted that the design of the partitions between
rooms, even without indoor air gap and reduced in thickness, comfortably achieved the required
index R’w. The background noise level due to HVAC systems also comfortably reached the
target, overcoming extreme difficulties in our situation. Finally, it should be noted this acoustic
project was accomplished by all the members in the work: entrepreneurs, designers, directors,
builders and installers.

REFERENCES
1
“Remaking the Movies. Digital content and the evolution of the film and video industries”, Organization for
Economic Co-Operation and Development, www.oecd.org/publishing, 2008.
2
“Dolby Atmos Next-Generation Audio for Cinema”, Dolby Laboratories. www.dolby.com, 2014.
3
“Movie theatre construction experience in the USA”, Cavanaugh, W, Acoustic Seminar, Marseilles, France, 1998.
4
“Technical Guidelines for Dolby Stereo Theatres”, Allen, Ioan, Dolby Laboratories Incorporated, USA, 1994.
5
“Acústica Arquitectónica”, Recuero López, M Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 1991.
6
“Sound insulation in movie theatres”. Jacobi, G, Acoustic Seminar, Marseilles, France, 1998.

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R. D. Ottobre et al. Multiplex cinema halls: Design and construction

7
“IRAM 4063-4 Standard: Acústica, Medición del aislamiento acústico en los edificios y de los elementos de
construcción - Parte 4: Medición "in situ" del aislamiento al ruido aéreo entre locales”; corresponding to ISO 140-4
Standard: Acoustics -- Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements - Part 4: Field
measurements of airborne sound insulation between rooms, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2002.
8
“IRAM 4070 Standard, Ruidos. Procedimiento para su evaluación utilizando los perfiles NC y RC”, Buenos Aires,
Argentina, 2008.
9
“ISO 3382 1997 Standard; UNE-EN ISO 3382 Standard, Acústica. Medición del tiempo de reverberación con
referencia a otros parámetros acústicos”, Madrid, Spain, 2001.

Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Vol. 28, 015025 (2017) Page 12