Project Type: Multi-Family

One Theater Square
Newark, NJ
Architect: Bower Lewis Thrower

One Theater Square is a mixed-use residential complex located in Newark, NJ consisting of a condominium tower, a parking garage, and retail spaces. It was the first new residential construction project to start from the ground up in downtown Newark in several decades and at 22 stories high, it has a dramatic impact on the skyline of the city. The building is adjacent to the waterfront and within walking distance to the city’s business district, giving it a prime location in a city that is experiencing some real growth and revitalization recently.

Metropolitan Acoustics was commissioned to provide design recommendations and consulting services across a broad scope of service areas. We partnered with the architect in the design phase to provide acoustical analysis of the amenity spaces which involved analysis of the building design, drawings, and proposed finishes. Our analysis was ongoing throughout the design of the project and we provided reports and recommendations including product information and drawings to the team.

Another important aspect of this project was interior acoustical isolation. In a large residential tower, appropriate reduction of sound transmission between condo units, between units and retail areas, between units and the parking garage, and between units and the amenity spaces is vital to the quality of living. Our analysis focused on the wall and floor-ceiling assemblies throughout the building and design recommendations for addressing sound transmission from the utility shafts, stair towers, elevator shafts, and mechanical chases throughout the building.

As is often the case in a large residential tower like this, noise and vibration from the mechanical equipment is a potential problem. A building of this size has large air-handling units, condensers, chillers, and transformers, all of which have the potential to create excessive amounts of noise. We provided a comprehensive review of all the systems and submitted reports outlining our recommendations for isolating the equipment from the structure of the building, and for limiting the propagation of sound and vibration coming from the ducts, the air flowing through the ducts, and from the equipment itself.

When the proper level of attention is paid to sound isolation, noise control and acoustics throughout all phases of a construction project, the results will be as expected. In a large residential building like this, tenants will notice noise and vibration coming from adjacent rooms or from the elevator or mechanical shafts, so the right solution is to follow this client’s approach and address all the potential issues up front. Preventative measures are always better than fixing the problems later.