Finding a Niche Need
According to partner and director of business development Sergio Molho, the e-studio concept is a charming way to describe this mission-control style room meant for anything from distance learning and teaching to making remote speeches and directing a company.
“It’s amazing the vast locations, ages and profiles looking for this,” said Molho. “From teachers to CEOs, people need excellent audio and visuals to work effectively.”
Content creation seems to be a standard need across the board for these clients. Younger generations are recording podcasts and Youtube videos at home; celebrity artists are doing more recordings in their own personal studios. Now it is also very possible — and often more practical — for content collaborations to take place remotely, but this also means that the network, acoustics and video need to be above and beyond.
However the biggest issue with these spaces is that room size and geometry has an impact on the acoustics of a space. There is also a common interest in lower frequencies, which is difficult to enhance in a smaller room. Fortunately WSDG has developed specific tools and methods in order to optimize these locations as they have for larger scale projects.
“Low frequency analysis (LFA) is especially important in these smaller residential spaces,” said John Storyk, founding partner and director of design at WSDG. “The development of NIRO has helped to simplify a complex process and give us the ability to optimize any room into a critical listening space.”
NIRO software analyzes the geometry of a space — sending it through an algorithm hundreds of times until it settles the optimum geometry — and advises the team how to move and implement acoustical panels.
Don’t Skimp on the Vibe
The e-studio is not turning out to be a purely pragmatic space. When clients call in looking for one, they also are asking for a specific feel that will make working in the e-studio more creative and fun.
“Convincing people that these rooms should be cool is easy now,” said Joshua Morris, partner and COO of WSDG, explaining that they have a technical interior design team on staff. “There has to be an experience factor now.”
The design of these small e-studios is incredibly detailed and immersive. Dep-ending on the use, the team uses LED indirect and dimple lighting, and if there is a strong video conference situation, they also work to get rid of unsightly shadows. The furniture layout is thought through, sometimes allowing for collaborative spaces or simply comfortable pieces for creative thinking. Along with the strategically placed acoustical panels, the architecture is also critiqued and enhanced with details like slotted wood, metal structures and more.
“The last year and a half has taught clients that it doesn’t matter where you are, you just need a good connection and a reasonable room to work and create,” said Storyk. “We predict that these rooms will continue to get smaller, and the threshold of entry for these spaces will get less as more people live, work and collaborate remotely.”