Information on The Knoll Renovation
Sophomore College Final Project : http://www.stanford.edu/~jgee/soco/index.htm
The Knoll in earlier times
Stanford University's Center for Computer Research in Music and
Acoustics is
housed in the Knoll Building, a prominent three-story mansion
overlooking the
campus core. CCRMA is renovating ($9.1M) to provide key research
facility
upgrades, demo and performance spaces, and to address seismic
strengthening in
this historically-significant building. Originally built as the
University
President's home, it has also housed the Music Department (now in Braun
Music
Center). In 1986, CCRMA relocated to the Knoll from the former Stanford
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
CCRMA's mission is interdisciplinary. In the best Stanford tradition,
the
onset of the digital age has opened a rich vein of theory and
application
related to the art and science of music. It's 150 staff and students
share
common interests in the human and technical aspects of music and sound.
Engineers, composers, and psychologists are among the
contributors.
Administratively within the Music Department, the center grants
degrees at
the undergraduate and graduate levels while also contributing to
programs in
the School of Engineering. In contrast to other School of Humanities and
Sciences units, it is largely self-funded through an endowment
(estab. in
1984 from royalties) and research grants.
Important research contributions have included techniques for digital
modeling
of musical sound (FM synthesis, Waveguide physical modeling) and
research in
sound perception (timbre research, automatic transcription). New areas
of
interest include "sonification" of complex data (e.g., real-time medical
imaging), self-calibrating arrays for accurate 3D sound using
hundreds of
loudspeakers, and applying next-generation internets in musical
performance.
The faculty is evenly distributed between artists, engineers and
scientists
and attracts an equally diverse set of student interest. Stanford has
been
long recognized as a place for computer music composition and CCRMA's
presence
in the Music Department one of its distinguishing features.
The renovation will provide state-of-the-art sound studios, a dedicated
performance space and "open-plan" work areas. The historical qualities
of the
building are being retained through a plan which locates digital
research
facilities where they work the best and intrude the least. For example,
better
sound isolation is obtained below building grade where encroachment on
historical concerns is minimal. A "Listening Room" is situated
accordingly. It
will permit full-spherical loudspeaker arrangements which are required
for
current research in synthetic acoustical space (listeners will be
seated on a
grid floor surrounded by a large array of loudspeakers, including
below).
A 100-seat performance hall is located in one wing of the uppermost
story to
provide a venue specifically intended for contemporary music performance
projects. Current audiences at the bi-weekly concerts often overrun the
capacity of the present multi-purpose Ballroom space. The new hall
accomodates
larger audiences, allows better scheduling flexibilty (reducing
contention
with classes) and incorporates the building's vistas of the Bay and
surrounding hills.
The present condition of the Knoll falls far short of CCRMA's needs.
One third
of the building was lost after the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 (the
condemned portion was replaced with trailer offices located on the same
site).
Meanwhile, the nature of computing and research directions have
continued to
evolve. An affiliation with the Center for Computer-Assisted
Research in the
Humanities has required carving out more space. Bringing the centers
into
physical proximity has resulted in research synergies worth the
squeeze. But,
knowing that major seismic repairs were imperative and would someday be
addressed, space accomodations, program upgrades and maintainance
items had
been deferred.
The renovation will make the building whole and will be enabling for
research
and teaching. Once completed, the university regains a significant
landmark
with an emphasis on better public access. A new demo /
museum lobby
incorporated at the entrance will provide exhibits on the history of
music
technology. Concerts in the renovated Knoll Building, its historical
architectural qualities, and the side-by-side interplay of art and
technology
are an exciting mix for the future.
Current Design Plans
Historic Pictures
