MANIPULATING
SPACE TO AMPLIFY
SOUND ENGINEERING

Located within an industrial building in Ferndale, Michigan, this live recording studio is a prime example of collaboration between architectural design and technical experts in the fields of acoustics and mechanical engineering. It’s a result of an investigation on how spatial design can positively impact sound through thoughtfully organized space and carefully selected materials.

Programmatically, Effigy Studio is organized around two main functions; the recording spaces and a support zone. The studio also includes a lounge, administrative office, and utility core. The support zone is a flexible space that functions as a waiting room, event space, or transitional space.

The recording spaces are configured within their own core, creating ‘rooms-in-a-room’ that help provide acoustical balance and minimize the structural transfer of exterior noises. The result is an acoustic system comprised of three major wrappings (control, isolation, and dispersion) that are introduced to control the sound quality of individual spaces.