Colorsonix Acoustical Wall Panels Cover Convention Center's Grand Ballroom

MBI Products was a key contractor for renovations of the grand ballroom at Hampton Roads Convention Center, which required updated acoustical wall panels for noise absorption.

The space is multi-configurable and was designed to serve various purposes that would all need optimized acoustics.

As an exhibit hall, meeting space, or large event venue, a grand ballroom is a cavernous space. With large numbers of people typically in attendance, music and hundreds of voices can reverberate around the room and drown each other out. Speech intelligibility in the ballroom would only be possible if strong echoes could be eliminated and HVAC noise could be absorbed. Coordinating a solution would entail custom acoustics, installed according to sound experts’ recommendations.

Initially slated for 2020, this project was postponed. The building was deemed essential as an overflow to local hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Construction eventually got underway in February 2021 under the direction of Athens Building Corp.

MBI Products collaborated closely with the general contractor and installers of this project to carefully analyze the room. Together, they determined the size, scope, and placement of sound-absorbing acoustical panels. “The MBI design team took every effort to incorporate the changes we requested. They made several iterations of the shop drawings to ensure we had what we needed,” the contractor shared.

MBI Colorsonix® Acoustical Wall Panels in four different colors fully cover the walls in the space. This custom plan included hundreds of panels designed to be aesthetically pleasing and a decorative solution to sound control. Their sound-absorbing fiberglass core effectively eliminates reflected sounds. The MBI team achieved the desired result.  

“The owner and architect were very pleased with the results of the entire project — the panels were a huge component. They were made well and installed very precisely, and the fabrics used perfectly match the adjacent folding partitions,” the contractor said. 

Colorsonix wall panels are offered in a wide range of finishes. From standard to custom, MBI will always provide the highest possible sound quality and performance. Our client shared positive feedback about the end result. “The Hampton Roads Convention Center staff have relayed that several city officials have stopped in to see the finished product. They are pleased and say that the new wall panels have really updated the space.”

If you have any questions about acoustic solutions for a large space, contact the sound experts at MBI Products.