Project Overview

A Catholic church in Kuala Lumpur engaged Acoustics Asia Builders after years of struggling with excessive echo, poor speech clarity, and difficulty hearing sermons, music, and live bands.

The hall’s original reverberation time (RT) measured 4–5 seconds, far above the ideal 1.5–2.0 seconds recommended for worship spaces. This made services tiring to follow, especially for elderly congregants and children.

To support the church’s mission and budget as a non-profit organisation, we designed a cost-efficient, wellness-focused acoustic solution using fabric-wrapped ceiling panels, installed without disrupting weekly worship.

Client’s Challenges

The client faced three major issues:

1. Excessive Reverberation

The long RT caused sermons, prayers, and choir performances to become blurred and difficult to understand.

2. Live Music Sound Problems

The church regularly hosted live bands for contemporary worship. Instruments — especially drums, guitars, and keyboards — created harsh reflections that overwhelmed vocals.

3. Budget Limitations

Being a non-profit community organisation, the church needed:

• An effective yet economical solution
• Safe materials
• Minimal downtime, with installation outside service hours

Our Acoustic Assessment

Using RT60 measurement tools and on-site analysis, we found:

• RT60 (Original): 4–5 seconds
• Highly reflective surfaces: concrete, plaster, glass
• No existing sound-absorbing materials
• Flutter echoes & long decays in the mid–high frequencies
• Sound hotspots around the altar and musician zone

These findings guided our design approach, focusing on reducing reflections, improving intelligibility, and balancing frequency response.

Our Solution & Design Approach

1. Fabric-Wrapped Acoustic Ceiling Panels

We proposed a ceiling-mounted acoustic treatment using non-toxic, eco-friendly fabric panels, selected for:

• High absorption (NRC 0.8–0.9 depending on thickness)
• Neutral, elegant colours suitable for sacred architecture
• Durable, easy-maintenance design

2. Strategic Placement for Maximum Coverage

Panels were arranged across the nave and altar area, angling them to break parallel reflections and minimise echo paths.

This layout specifically targeted:

• Mid–high frequencies (critical for speech clarity)
• Direct reflections from the band
• General reverberation across the hall

3. Acoustic Expertise Provided as a Complimentary Contribution

To support the church’s financial constraints, we charged only for:

• Material
• Labour
• Transportation

All acoustic design, testing, and consultancy were provided at no additional cost as our contribution to the community.

Results

Measured Acoustic Improvement

Acoustic Parameter	Before	After
Reverberation Time (RT60)	4–5 seconds	1.4–1.8 seconds
Speech Clarity	Poor	Clear, balanced, comfortable
Live Band Performance	Harsh, overwhelming	Controlled, warm, well-defined

What the Client Reported

• Congregants instantly noticed clearer sermons
• Elderly members could finally hear without strain
• Music felt “full but not noisy”
• Overall experience became calmer, warmer, and more welcoming

Visuals From the Project

Why This Solution Worked

• Rooms with high ceilings & hard surfaces need heavy mid-high absorption
• Ceiling placement treats the largest reflection path without altering the architecture
• Fabric-wrapped panels provided both performance and aesthetic harmony
• Reducing RT to ~1.5 seconds created the ideal balance between spoken word and music

Client Profile

Type: Catholic Church
Location: Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur
Space: Worship hall
Primary Use: Sermons, choir, live band worship, community gatherings
Project Duration: 4-day installation.

Ready to Improve Your Worship Space?

Acoustic comfort changes the way people experience faith, music, and community.
If your church or hall faces echo, unclear sound, or live band issues, we can help.