Coldstream Community Centre Acoustic Upgrade

The Challenge

Coldstream Community Centre is a much-loved venue in the Yarra Ranges, hosting everything from community meetings and fitness classes to celebrations, performances, and public events. Like many large halls and community centres, the space was designed for flexibility and durability – high ceilings, hard surfaces, and an open plan that can accommodate large groups. But those same design features created a serious acoustic challenge. This case study explores how SoundFix Acoustics transformed a highly reverberant, echo-filled hall into a space that supports clear speech, controlled noise levels, and a far more comfortable experience for everyone who uses it – all through the strategic use of ceiling acoustic panels and wall panels, installed at height and colour-matched to the existing architecture.

The Solution

Large community halls are some of the most difficult spaces to manage acoustically. Coldstream Community Centre has an approximately 8-metre-high ceiling, expansive wall areas, and a combination of brickwork and hard internal finishes. While visually impressive and structurally practical, these surfaces offered almost no sound absorption.

Before any acoustic treatment was installed, the hall suffered from excessive echo and uncontrolled noise build-up. Sound energy reflected repeatedly between the ceiling and walls instead of dissipating naturally. This resulted in long reverberation times across the speech-critical frequency range, making spoken communication difficult and fatiguing. Measured reverberation times before treatment averaged 5.15 seconds, with mid-frequency values around 500 Hz and 1 kHz exceeding five seconds. In practical terms, this meant that voices overlapped, announcements became unclear, and group activities generated a constant wash of background noise. In a community environment where inclusivity is essential – accommodating children, older adults, and people with hearing challenges – these conditions made the space hard to use effectively.

As with many community centres, the challenge was not just technical. Any solution had to respect the visual character of the hall, work within the existing structure, and avoid intrusive construction. The goal was clear: achieve meaningful echo reduction and noise control without compromising the flexibility or appearance of the space.

The Installation

Installing acoustic treatments in a space with an 8-metre-high ceiling requires experience, planning, and precision. This was not a standard office or classroom installation. Access, safety, alignment, and consistency all had to be carefully managed. SoundFix Acoustics handled the installation end-to-end, coordinating access equipment and working methodically across the ceiling grid. Each ceiling acoustic panel was positioned according to the acoustic design, ensuring even coverage and balanced absorption throughout the hall. The colour-matched panels integrated cleanly with the existing ceiling structure, preserving the visual rhythm of the space while adding a functional acoustic layer. Where wall panels were introduced, they were aligned with architectural elements to maintain symmetry and visual order. Crucially, the installation was completed without structural alterations. No changes to the roof, walls, or services were required. This meant the centre could be upgraded acoustically without the disruption, cost, or complexity often associated with large-scale building works.

The Outcome

The results were immediate and measurable. After the installation of the ceiling acoustic panels, the average reverberation time across the hall dropped from 5.15 seconds to 2.08 seconds, representing an approximate 60% reduction in reverberation time. Mid-frequency values, which are critical for speech clarity, were reduced to around two seconds – a dramatic improvement for a space of this size and function.

In practical terms, the difference was transformative. Speech became clearer and more intelligible. Background noise levels dropped significantly during busy events. Activities that once felt chaotic or exhausting became calmer and easier to manage. Instructors, presenters, and organisers no longer needed to raise their voices, and attendees reported a far more comfortable listening environment.

Perhaps most importantly, the hall became more inclusive. Reduced echo and improved sound absorption made the space more accessible for people with hearing difficulties and those sensitive to noise. Conversations felt natural again, and the hall could finally support the wide range of community uses it was designed for.

This project demonstrates a key principle of acoustic design in large halls and community centres: when ceiling acoustic panels and wall panels are selected and installed correctly, they don’t just improve sound – they change how a space feels and functions.

Before-and-After Acoustic Results

Before installation

Average RT60: 5.15 seconds

Excessive echo across key speech frequencies (500 Hz–2 kHz)

Speech overlap, listener fatigue, and difficulty understanding conversations — especially challenging in a multilingual community centre and for older community members

After installation

Average RT60: 2.08 seconds

If your community hall, sports centre, or large venue suffers from excessive echo, poor speech clarity, or uncontrolled noise, the solution is not to redesign the building — it’s to address the acoustics.

To see how we can transform your venue, get in touch with SoundFix Acoustics for an acoustic assessment and discover how the right solution can make your space work the way it was always meant to.

Community spaces are built for people—and people need to hear, understand and feel comfortable within them. Whether it’s a multicultural centre, place of worship, school, office or healthcare facility, poor acoustics can undermine even the most thoughtfully designed environment.

If your community centre, office or public space is struggling with echo, noise or speech clarity- especially in multilingual environments- contact SoundFix Acoustics today. We’ll assess your space, design the right solution, and quietly transform the way it sounds.

Contact SoundFix today for professional advice and expert installation.