Catenary Banners: Arlen Specter US Squash Center

Challenge

The Arlen Specter US Squash Center is a 65,000 square foot facility on the campus of Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Housing 18 singles courts and 2 hardball doubles courts, it serves as the home of US Squash national headquarters and the US Squash Hall of Fame, hosting national championships and recreational play. The facility features impressively high ceilings and a central mezzanine with sprawling views.

Like most recreational facilities, the Squash Center is constructed of hard surfaces: concrete, glass, and wood. Sound from sneakers on court surfaces, balls striking walls, and cheering spectators echoes and reverberates off these hard surfaces, potentially distracting athletes during competition and diminishing the experience for spectators and visitors. The combination of the facility's volume, hard surface materials, and high-energy activities created excessive reverberation that needed to be controlled without compromising the architectural character of the space.

Solution

Sound Quality Catenary Banners were specified to address the reverberation problem. Catenary banners are designed for large, open spaces that require substantial sound absorption coverage, making them ideal for the Squash Center's high-ceiling architecture.

A total of 22,600 square feet of banners were installed across the facility's ceiling, suspended horizontally via grommets. The PVC option was selected for its enhanced noise control performance, and the grey color was chosen to complement the space and blend with the ceiling and roof deck architectural elements. The banners are available in custom sizes up to 4 ft by 25 ft, and mock-ups were provided during the decision-making process to help the facility evaluate the visual and acoustic impact before committing to full installation.

Results

The catenary banners reduced the original, untreated reverberation time by 63%. The installation maintained the facility's architectural character while eliminating the excessive echo that had been a concern for both athletes and visitors. The PVC banners integrate visually with the ceiling structure, appearing as a planned architectural element rather than an acoustic retrofit.