The Advocate restaurant in Berkeley, California, has been integrated with Meyer Sound Libra and Constellation acoustic systems to create a multisensory dining space. Restaurateurs John Paluska and Andrew Hoffman previously specified Libra and Constellation systems in their restaurant, Comal, in 2012.
“After the success we had with Libra and Constellation at Comal, there was never any question that we would also incorporate them at The Advocate,” said Paluska. “It’s always worthwhile putting extra effort into making a room sound its best at all times, and it’s particularly crucial at The Advocate, as it’s a large room with a lot of hard surfaces.”
Working as an integrated concept, Meyer Sound acoustic systems allow restaurant operators to “dial in” a lively buzz as needed, while always maintaining separated conversation spaces at every table. The Libra acoustic image system uses a network of loudspeakers, microphones, and digital processing to reproduce an ambient acoustical environment, with the precise level of reverberation characteristics suited to the occupancy level and desired mood. The system is configured in two zones, allowing restaurant staff to offer different energy levels for the bar and dining areas using a custom iPad app for control.
With seating for about 100, The Advocate occupies 3,400sqft in what was originally Wright’s Garage, a historic 1918 brick structure. To manage reverberation the ceiling was treated with acoustical damping materials and one entire wall was devoted to two very large, acoustically absorbent Libra panels (6ft x 13ft and 6ft x 11ft) created under the art direction of Deborah O’Grady. The treatments dropped the reverberation time by more than a second.
The Constellation system comprises a D-Mitri digital audio platform housing the patented VRAS acoustical algorithm, 26 UP-4XP loudspeakers, two Stella-8C installation loudspeakers, and 10 MM-10XP subwoofers.
