Case Study

K.B. Hallen

Architect : CHRISTENSEN & CO. ARKITEKTER A/S
Client: Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
Country: Danmark

New acoustic design transforms concert arena

K.B. Hallen was the home of Denmark’s national handball team for decades, while world-famous bands including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones also played at the arena before it was partially ruined by fire in 2011.

Now, the arena has been rebuilt – and it promises visitors a more exciting acoustic experience than ever before. The giant leap in acoustic quality is down to close partnership between the arena’s ambitious owner and acoustics expert, Jesper Bo Andersen from Rambøll.

KB Hallen

"A successful result is always achieved when acoustics are considered from the start"

Jesper Bo Andersen, Acoustican & Master of engineering from Rambøll

 

KB Hallen acoustic ceiling

Perfect sound quality

The arena’s curved roof adds its own character to the space, but it also creates an acoustic challenge, because the ceiling’s dish shape reflects all sound into a narrow strip in the middle of the hall.

The acoustican solved this challenge by using Gyptone BIG Line 6 plasterboards. The baords are mounted as a “staircase” contruction and hidden behind the grooved metal ceiling.

This hidden construction between the visible metal ceiling and the roof is used by a ”tool” to control the sound and ensure a perfect sound quality.

 

Gyptone ceiling in concert hall

3D simulation

One of the world’s leading systems for 3D simulation of the sound conditions in a room, ODEON, has been used for this project.

The sound reflections from the staircase-shaped Gyptone BIG Line plasterboard ceiling were shown in a 3D program prior to the rebuilding. 

Each board has its own color, with the reflection from it plotted on the floor in the same colour.

Ramboll, 3D simulation of KB Hallen

Licensed to: Rambøll, Denmark