"It’s not just a dance surface it’s also an acoustics surface", said
Andy Scorgie, Head of Facilities Management at Shakespeare’s Globe
in London, talking about the floors recently installed by British
Harlequin at their new education and rehearsal centre. Andy
explained that the Harlequin floor "is something our acoustic
consultant was keen on using. It’s a product I am particularly
familiar with due to working in and creating different spaces over
the years." Well known as global leaders in dance floors, the
Globe’s selection of a Harlequin Activity sprung floor with hardwood
oak surface was chosen not just for its spring characteristics and
aesthetics, but also for its acoustic properties. Located close to
Shakespeare’s Globe and reflecting the same architectural feel
thanks to the use of oak and curved walls, the new Sackler Studios
comprise a rehearsal room for the theatre company, four education
workshop studios and a music room, as well as a café.
"The whole structure of a Harlequin floor although it is designed to
give you spring, for us helped tremendously in creating a space
which as you can hear is lively," continued Andy speaking during our
interview from a studio within the new facility. "One of the reasons
for a Harlequin floor was not so much as having a nice sprung
surface, but more to do with improving the sound separation between
one space and another". Discussing the installation, Andy went on to
say how he was "tremendously pleased" with "the Harlequin floor
going down very easily and quickly. From a look and feel as a
working surface and as part of the sound separation between all the
studios it’s more than done its job."
"I must admit I had never thought of Harlequin floors in terms of an
acoustic material rather than a dance floor, which is obviously how
we generally think of them”, concluded Andy. “However it’s another
string to Harlequin’s bow that it is not just a dance surface, it is
also an acoustics surface."
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