Sala São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Sala São Paulo concert hall was inaugurated in 1999 with the Mahler Second Symphony, conducted by John Neschling. In 1996 Artec was invited to determine the feasibility of a new permanent home for the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Artec determined that an open-air courtyard inside the Estaçao Sorrocabana Ferrovial Júlio Prestes - the central railway station - would be the best, and most appropriate space to be renovated for concert hall use.

The active rail lines that still operated within a hundred feet of the facility presented a major challenge. The use of a "floating slab" was Artec's choice to prevent this, and any other vibration-born noise, from entering the building.

For this conversion/renovation, Artec designed one of the world's first motor-operated adjustable acoustic ceilings. It is divided into fifteen individually controlled panels that allow the shape and height of the ceiling to be changed, adjusting the acoustic environment to match the performance.

The main floor of the 1600-seat venue is a flat floor with demountable seating. A parterre of fixed seating surrounds the main floor. A rear balcony and balcony boxes were installed around and behind the concert platform, and in the audience chamber. A second level of balcony seating boxes was created from the existing first floor corridor.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Pre-Design Phase services, Auditorium Design, Facility Planning, Specialized Performance Equipment Systems Design and Background Noise and Vibration Control consulting for Sala São Paulo. The original Estaçao Sorrocabana Ferrovial Júlio Prestes was designed by the noted Brazilian architect Neves. São Paulo's Nelson Dupré was the architect for its conversion to a concert hall.