Bashing down control room walls

  • Thread starter Thread starter corban
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corban

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So I do some recording at my former school, they still let me use their equipment in exchange for recording services. Unfortunately, the acoustics there suck. Hopefully this crappy diagram shows up:
the_shed.jpg

If not, copy and paste this link, do not click: http://hiddeninmotion.tripod.com/the_shed.jpg

The dimensions of the overall room are basically 12x13, but it's diminished by the closet and the corner storage room, which is about 6x6. It used to be a darkroom, apparently. As you can see, acoustically this set up sucks. Obviously I want the mix position to be centred along a wall, but there's just no room to do that anywhere.

Basically, I want to bash down that storage room and make a proper size control room and treat it properly. I just don't know if they'll let me do that, or provide me with the resources to do it. I'm not sure if I'm posting this to ask for advice, since I know what I want to do, but if anybody has any tips, let me know. Also, if they don't let me take out the walls, would it be worthwhile to move the mixing desk against the outer wall on the left? In that case I could at least get equidistant to the side walls, but then I have a rear wall right on my back cause there's only 7' until the stupid storage room! Any thoughts are welcome.
 
So, copy and paste the link, I guess you can't remote load with tripod
 
find out if the walls you wanna take out are LOAD BEARING! I had a friend take out a downstairs wall in his house and the bedroom fell into the dining room :eek: :D
 
Thanks lemon, I'll check into that. My impression is that they're not, as they're thin, short walls, surrounded by the outer walls, which would be load bearing. Or am I incorrect in this assumption?
 
Or am I incorrect in this assumption?
Click to expand...
Do NOT assume anything when it comes to structural elements. When you say "thin",what does that mean. A common residential interior partition wall is 4 1/2" thick, including the two drywall leafs.These could be loadbearing or not. The wall thickness of these type of walls is RATED to support a load that is determined by calculations/tests/code. There could even be a steel support post embedded in the wall. You never know. Especially in institutional, industrial, or commercial buildings One thing that could suggest whether it may be or not is the span of the roof or ceiling perpendicular to this wall, in either direction. Long spans suggest that the wall may be supporting the ends of ceiling joists, or maybe just conceiling a steel "I" beam. Or, there may be a truss of some kind, or braces from roof joists or purlins, which my house has. There are lots of conditions that could exist. An investigation into the area above the wall/ceiling connection would be advisable.
I think you should be aware of something though. I would submit, that if this is a publc school building, ANY demolition or construction will require a permit from the Building Inspection Department in your county. Even a simple wall or door relocation or other seemingly innocent DIY projects, can alter HVAC supply and return loads, egress from the building, fire sprinklers, fire rated walls and doors, and many other things. Even if its a private school projects of this nature will require permits. At least check with the Principlal or whoever is in charge of Building maintenece and or management.
fitZ :)
 
Thanks apl, I've read that article often, it's been very helpful.

Thanks Rick, I definitely wouldn't be knocking it down without approval of the maintenance head. Hopefully they'll know the structure of the walls, but it's useful to know all the things that could be working against me here. It is a private school, and the building is basically a little shed out in a field, no plumbing or phone lines, and barely electricity. :rolleyes:

The room in question is basically just a 6x5 closet, and I would be surprised if we needed a permit, but then again I don't know about such things, which you obviously do. So thanks for the heads up, I'll check into it.
 
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