Outdoor Concert Hotel Acoustics

Abstract

VAI Resort, situated across the street from the site of Super Bowl LVII, presents a number of acoustical challenges, not the least of which is a world-class, 360-degree outdoor performance venue. Performers will blast an 8-storey hotel located 250 ft away with music of all types, which audiences will enjoy from the balconies of their hotel rooms. The challenge of modeling such a venue comes in simplifying it down to manageable pieces. Does a balcony with a hotel room behind it behave like a Helmholtz resonator? How do the acoustics change if 90% of the balconies are open to the hotel rooms beyond? What if 50% are open? 25% are open? Such a variable acoustic space presents a significant modeling challenge. A methodology for tackling such a large-scale project is presented, with modeling results, auralizations, and comparisons to real-world measurements. Findings include a swing in RT60 of more than 25% when all balcony doors are opened versus closed.