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

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Minnesota District Completes Renovations to 3 Schools

    South Washington County Schools in Woodbury, Minn., recently completed major renovation projects to three of its schools, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and the upgrades were part of a larger referendum that voters approved in fall 2024.

  • Amazon Expands Lockers to More Than 500 College, University Campuses

    Amazon recently announced that its Locker Network now totals more than 750 locations at more than 500 college and university campuses around the United States, according to a company news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.