Originally built as a metal foundry 100 years ago, the warehouse space in Gowanus, Brooklyn has now been transformed into The Mercury Store. The approximately 13,000 square foot venue serves as a start-up space for theatre artists such as stage directors, choreographers and devisers. The new, state-of-the-art facility provides flexible room, light and inspiration for the theatre, dance and music artists who rehearse and perform there.
To assure the highest level of sound constraints, the architects, alongside their acoustical consultants, decided to have two Hufcor identical Series 642 operable paired panel partition walls in the space, separated by an airspace of just four-and-a-half feet. Each Hufcor partition has steel sheets inside, to help gain an STC rating of 54 for this project. The panels are nominally four inches thick and have a 16 gauge steel frame.
The Design Process
Architect Brings Vision to Project
Just opened in June of 2021, The Mercury Store represents a transformation of space. Following the design visions of CO Adaptive Architecture PLLC, the team at Yorke Construction Corporation brought new life to the old industrial facility.
The construction group restored and repaired the existing masonry structure, completely replaced all the windows and skylights, and reinstated the existing clerestory above the main assembly spaces. They added structural steel reinforcements to create a double-height assembly space, overhauled the mechanical, electrical and plumbing operations, and installed one of New York City’s first glue-laminated beam/column and cross-laminated timber flooring systems.
However, before the first board was nailed into place, the redesign was brought to life by the team at CO Adaptive. The Brooklyn-based firm specializes in creative reuse of spaces with a low carbon footprint and high energy efficiency.
“This project represents a dream come true for us; restoring an old building, giving it a new use and taking it into the next century,” says Ruth Mandl, AIA and principal of CO Adaptive Architecture. “We are a process oriented architectural practice focused on retrofitting our existing building stock to create energy efficient, climate resilient and spatially beautiful environments.”
Best-in-Class Acoustical Partition Walls
Soaring spaces were created within the one side of the double A-frame warehouse by removing a floor. The open rehearsal and performance areas expose the beautiful existing heavy timber trusses and wood roof joists. All existing windows and skylights are restored and reinstated, allowing natural light to wash the interior.
To break the space up as needed, while assuring sound control for the performers, CO Adaptive
team members explored partition wall options early in the design phase. They also consulted with acoustical design experts at Charcoal Blue, a leading international theatre, acoustic and design consultancy service.
“The client’s goal was always to create a flexible environment,” says Mandl. “That meant incorporating best-in-class acoustical partition walls. We needed these walls to meet extremely high partition heights of 20-feet, plus pass sound isolation test requirements and fire ratings, all while staying within our cost limits. After an extensive search, we determined that Hufcor was the only partition manufacturer that met all of our constraints and needs.”
Importance of Sound Control
When fully occupied, The Mercury Store can potentially host several unique performances staged simultaneously. During the design phase, CO Adaptive imagined the large space being cut in half to concurrently host rock bands and impassioned theatre productions.
“The Mercury Store owners wanted to have the flexibility of using the large double height space as two completely sound isolated studios,” says Mandl. “In their minds, that meant the possibility of deep base sounds in one half of the room not transferring into the other section where a soliloquy might be practiced at the same time.”
To assure the highest level of sound constraints, the architects, alongside their acoustical consultants, decided to have two identical Series 642 operable paired panel partition walls in the space, separated by an airspace of just four-and-a-half feet. Each partition has steel sheets inside, to help gain an STC rating of 54 for this project. The panels are nominally four inches thick and have a 16 gauge steel frame. CO Adaptive customized the panels by choosing white trim with a Harmony face finish sound-absorbing fabric covering from Hytex. The fabric is made from 100% recycled content.
The wall-to-wall paired panels may be stacked at either or both ends of the overhead track, or in a pocket area. Because they are available in a maximum height of 24 feet, three inches, the panels were ideal for the project.
Putting Partition Walls to the Test
To complete the acoustical sound barrier and provide a flow of light between the two spaces, CO Adaptive, alongside Charcoal Blue, specified a trapezoid clear glass window above the partition walls. Made of four layers of glass in different thicknesses, the window has a variety of air spaces between the glass. In addition, the skylight at the top of the building is made of high performance glass.
According to Karl Franklin Allen, Production and Facilities Manager at The Mercury Store, CO Adaptive’s design and product recommendations have been extremely successful.
“The ease of use and effective sound isolation is excellent,” says Allen. “The partition walls are much easier to operate than any I’ve experienced in the past. Right now all of our studios are booked. We’ve been working with the partitions in place almost exclusively and they’re working quite well.
“Oftentimes guests don’t even realize there’s another studio on the other side. It definitely looks and feels like a solid wall. The Hufcor partition panels allow us flexibility to expand and adapt our spaces to meet a variety of needs and challenges.
“In addition, the trapezoid window at the top helps spread the natural light through both rooms. We’ve gotten a good number of compliments on the glass. Together, they’re an attractive and effective way to establish two separate performance areas.”
Hufcor Group is a global industry leader and preferred partner for the most installed brand of operable partitions in the world:OPERABLE PARTITIONSOPERABLE GLASSWALL Hufcor’s Operable Partition & Glasswall solutions provide the most flexible sight and sound separation in the industry, enabling the users of our products to maximize the customer experience and utilization of their space. Our products can be found across the globe — from the largest convention centers and entertainment arenas to schools, universities, restaurants, hotels, airports, commercial fit-outs and retail storefronts. Committed to advancing what’s possible in space management, Hufcor is more than just an industry leading manufacturer, we are consultants, designers, project managers, installers, service and support experts to every customer. We focus on being the most valued resource and partner to architects, designers, contractors and building owners worldwide. Hufcor Group's global headquarters is located in Janesville, Wisconsin USA, with manufacturing sites located in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia / Asia Pacific. Hufcor Group sells and distributes worldwide through local and global partners.
