Occupying the first three floors of a six-storey building shared with the Baryshnikov Arts Center, the recently completed DiMenna Center for Classical Music provides an exemplary home for Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

It also adds live music momentum to the stir caused by the opening of the Jungle City recording complex, providing music rehearsal, recording, broadcast, teleconferencing, educational and streaming facilities

Constructed over the past year, the innovative acoustic design of the complex is the work of Akustiks, with installation taken care of by Masque Sound. The results are well demonstrated by the Mary Flagler Cary Hall, a 50 x 50-sq-ft rehearsal/recording studio with a 30-ft ceiling. The 20 x 30-sq-ft Norman S. Benzaquen Hall rehearsal/recording studio has similarly comprehensive systems integration, and the complex also includes two dedicated smaller Rehearsal Studios, two Practice Studios and a Central Control/Learning & Media Studio.

‘The DiMenna Center is one of the most “connected” rehearsal/production studios in New York City,’ says Masque Sound principal, Geoff Shearing. ‘We have collaborated with Akustiks principal designer Anthony Nittoli on a number of high-profile assignments recently, but this was one of our most demanding and comprehensive integration programmes to date.

‘Our mandate was to make the DiMenna Center an extremely flexible production facility,’ Nittoli adds. ‘The wiring and system integration aspects were the project’s most critical elements. We were confident that Masque Sound’s skill set and attention to detail were a perfect match for Orchestra of St. Luke’s needs. The decision to create a console/speaker agnostic Central Control Room was particularly decisive, and it placed a special emphasis on the integration mission.’

The installtion incorporates 32 dedicated microphone lines, two 16 channel stageboxes; eight tie lines, four speaker level tie lines, multiple remote control video camera connectivity with four video tie lines, Cat6 cabling for A/V networking, plus a two-channel intercom system. The entire complex has the same facilities, scaled to the specific needs the smaller rooms

It also offers the option to record and playback on systems of clients’ choice. Many producers and artists have specific desk and speaker preferences, all of which are readily available on rental basis, and the Central Control Rooms’ wiring enables it to accommodate virtually any technology package. The remote control cameras enables producers and engineers to maintain constant visual connectivity with the artists, and the Cat6 networking connectivity permit secure data transmission between every room in the complex.

Exceptional room acoustics also mean that it can be adapted to suit to virtually any type of performance, from classical to jazz.

As the culmination of a 36-year fundraising process, Marianne C Lockwood, president emeritus of Orchestra of St. Luke’s has called the US$36m complex a ‘dream come true.’ And the appear to have been well worth the wait – the DiMenna Center for Classical Music has rapidly assumed a highly respected position in the hierarchy of NYC music venues. Performers and audiences alike have remarked that the sound, flexibility and stunning appearance of the rooms provides an extraordinary environment for rehearsing and recording.