School of Rock Canton

Challenge

DesignStruct, a design-build firm, was constructing a School of Rock music instruction facility in Canton Township, Michigan. The space needed to accommodate simultaneous music instruction across multiple lesson rooms, including rooms where students play live drum kits producing sound levels exceeding 100 dB. Adjacent lesson rooms, common areas, and neighboring tenant spaces all required protection from sound transfer.

The core challenge was designing wall and ceiling assemblies with sufficient sound isolation to allow full-volume instrument instruction in one room without audible bleed into adjacent spaces. Standard commercial construction assemblies would not achieve the required transmission loss, particularly at the low frequencies generated by drums and bass amplifiers. The project also needed to meet Canton Township building code and permitting requirements, including sealed architectural drawings for the sound isolation assemblies.

Solution

Memtech Acoustics engineered the complete sound isolation package for the facility, working directly with DesignStruct from the design phase through permitting and construction.

Wall Assemblies: Decoupled drywall construction was specified using resilient channel and isolation clips to break the structural connection between the interior wall surfaces and the framing. This decoupled approach prevents sound vibration from transferring through the studs, which is the primary transmission path in conventional wall construction. The assembly design was optimized for the low-frequency energy characteristic of drums and amplified instruments.

Ceiling Assemblies: Similar decoupling principles were applied to the ceiling construction, using resilient isolation systems to prevent sound transmission through the floor-ceiling assembly to any space above.

Penetration Sealing: All electrical, HVAC, and plumbing penetrations through the sound-rated assemblies were detailed with acoustic sealant and isolation treatments to prevent flanking sound paths that would compromise the rated performance of the walls and ceilings.

Permitting Support: Memtech prepared sealed permit drawings for Canton Township showing the complete sound isolation assembly details, including material specifications, fastener patterns, sealant locations, and construction sequencing notes. These drawings provided the building department with the technical documentation needed for plan review approval and gave the contractor clear construction instructions.

Memtech coordinated material procurement and delivery with the construction schedule, ensuring that specialized acoustic products were on site when the framing and drywall crews needed them.

Results

The completed facility achieved the required sound isolation performance across all lesson rooms. Simultaneous instruction, including live drum kit sessions at levels exceeding 100 dB, occurs without audible sound transfer to adjacent rooms or neighboring tenant spaces. The permit drawings were approved by Canton Township without revision requests, and the construction was completed on the original schedule. DesignStruct had a single point of accountability for all acoustic design, specification, permitting documentation, and material supply.