“The Transform banners really make a difference in our new performance hall and rehearsal space,” says Doug Orzolek, who heads the music department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. 

The university’s Schoenecker Center, which opened in 2024, is a hub for STEAM education and other interdisciplinary learning experiences. It’s a massive 130,000-square-foot building, boasting five levels of open floor plans, science labs, an art gallery, a café, and communal areas. 

During planning for the Sarah Rose Hall Instrumental Rehearsal Room and the Choral Performance Hall, Orzolek knew they needed versatility. He gives credit to the acousticians from Jaffe Holden for asking the right questions about how the spaces would be used.

Matt Nichols from Jaffe Holden explains that their acoustic modeling process calculates how many banners are needed for each space and how much air space should be between the banners and the wall. 

“The Transform banners provide acoustic flexibility for multi-use spaces that must transition between a lively space and a dry, controlled space,” notes Nichols. “Deploying them in the rehearsal room, for example, helps students really hear what they’re playing and pinpoint problems.”

Orzolek agrees. For Symphonic Band rehearsals, when preparing for a concert, he deploys the banners 75%. “Students comment they can hear themselves better, which is crucial as we are focusing on notes, rhythms and articulation accuracy.

“The ability to hear distinctly is vital for both me as the director and for the students,” he adds. As the performance date approaches, raising the banners better approximates the acoustics of their off- campus concert location. Orzolek says operating the Transform banners is easy, with user-friendly controls and five preset settings plus the ability for fine-tuning. 

Being able to tweak the acoustics in real-time with the banners is a game-changer, especially considering the growing concern about hearing loss among today’s students. Orzolek is all for anything that can help preserve their hearing: “If using these banners can help save some of their hearing, count me in.”