University centre -- A "Slightly surround" concert hall

A number of modern concert halls are so designed that the audience surrounds the performance area. Although this disposition of audience with respect to performance enhances the sense of intimate involvement between audience and musicians, this advantage is achieved at a cost: the orchestral balance suffers in the seats behind the stage because the musical instruments and the human voice project the sound forward, not backward. Some concert halls, currently being designed, provide for a limited number of seats behind the stage to accommodate a chorus when needed, and to hold more audience when no chorus is involved. Correct orchestral balance in the seats behind the stage is helped by a carefully designed array of sound reflecting panels above the stage. An example of such a "slightly surround" concert hall is described in this paper.