Skanska provided preconstruction and construction management services for the new $19.8 million, 41,000-SF Patricia Louise Frost Music Studios, which includes percussion and jazz rehearsal rooms, music laboratories and practice studios. The project is comprised of two, three story buildings. The north building is 27,000-SF and the south building is 14,000-SF. The practice studios are independent capsules that are isolated from the structure and adjacent spaces. To accomplish this, the music classrooms have inner and outer walls that are separated by several inches of air space. The upper portions of the walls are connected to the slabs above by isolator bushing assemblies. Additionally, the ductwork penetrations are at the hallway, therefore reducing sound transmission through the ceilings and walls of adjacent rooms. Other building enhancements include: a new entrance to the Frost School; improved acoustics; state-of-the-art recording capabilities; a new reception and information center; a furnished breezeway terrace; and box office kiosks for performances.
The University’s Frost School of Music is one of the most innovative and recognized music schools in the U.S. The project is targeting LEED Platinum Certification. Several key sustainable features of the buildings are: photovoltaic roof panels which convert sunlight into electricity; harvesting tanks for reusing rainwater to flush toilets; titanium dioxide mixed into the precast concrete to remove air pollutants (serving as the equivalent of planting 320 trees); bamboo flooring throughout; and electrochromic glazing which automatically tints the glass to control the sunlight, eliminating the need for blinds or shades.
