Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Proper Planning Ensures Sound Results

  • 07/01/13
Music Facility 

Walnut High School in Walnut, Calif., had a bond passed to build a $3-million band and orchestra building. They turned to Wenger’s “Planning Guide for Secondary School Music Facilities” to figure out the best solutions for designing and furnishing the facility and justifying the costs.

When there were just rumors of a new music building, I called Wenger immediately,” says Dr. Buddy Clements, Band director at Walnut High School in Walnut, Calif. Eventually, a bond passed to build a $3-million band and orchestra building.

“Wenger’s ‘Planning Guide for Secondary School Music Facilities’ helped me do my homework and justify my requests,” Clements recalls.

Clements and Corey Wicks are full-time instrumental music directors leading three concert bands, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, two string orchestras, full symphonic orchestra and even mariachi band!

Clements says their previous rehearsal room wasn’t very flattering to certain instruments — the alto voices — and over-projected bass instruments. “With our new rehearsal room and acoustical panels, I now hear all the frequencies and timbres,” he explains. “The panels make a tremendous impact.”

For individual practice, five SoundLok practice rooms feature VAE technology that offers realistic acoustical simulations and digital record/playback capabilities.

“Students practice in the rooms constantly, so I know they’re enjoying them,” explains Clements. Students can practice without disturbing rehearsals.

To ensure proper posture and comfort, Clements requested 200 Student Chairs from Wenger. Many of the Student Chairs he had purchased 25 years ago are still in service.

He also appreciates the longevity of his original Conductor’s System — podium, chair and stand — that he’s used for 30 years. For instrument storage, UltraStor cabinets protect belongings and improve traffic flow. “Wenger’s information and support, helped me know what my students and I needed up front,” Clements concludes.

www.wengercorp.com

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management July 2013 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Reopens Following $25M Campus Modernization

    Haʻaheo Elementary School in Hilo, Hawaii, has reopened to students following a three-year, $25-million campus modernization and expansion project that significantly increases the school's instructional space while preserving one of the island's oldest educational institutions, according to local news.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.