A highly versatile Rehearsal/Recital/Lecture space arose within the Claremont Colleges consortium as part of a major expansion and renovation of their music program. The 110-seat room whose name, Boone Recital Hall, belies its versatility, features variable acoustics and acoustical shaping that mimics the orchestra shell in their adjacent Garrison Theater in order that the choral rehearsal environment would “translate” well to the on-stage performance environment. The entire project including a substantial renovation of Garrison and provided numerous new music faculty studios, many practice rooms and a music library and classroom.

Boone “triples” as a full Choral Rehearsal room (choristers seated as they would be within Garrison shell), Lecture Room and, of course, Recital Hall. Thus, the hall’s plan form design and height as needed for rehearsals, were informed largely by the new Garrison shell in which choristers would perform. Reverberance adjustment of 0.3s (mid-frequencies) is provided by 642 ft2 of heavy drapery at 100% folds stored within 2 cavities totaling 6990 ft3 (198 m3). The total project completed in November 2003 as a great success, acoustically and otherwise.