In spaces where sound control is paramount — such as auditoriums, lecture halls, sanctuaries, and recording studios — mass timber beams and panels imbue warmth and clarity to the spoken word and live performances that other materials can’t match. Aesthetically, the natural beauty of timber gives these often-cavernous rooms a warm, inviting atmosphere that’s appealing to the eye and the touch. And because of its sustainability, timber is an ideal choice for environmentally conscious congregations, theater groups, and educational facilities.

There are so many reasons for using mass timber in spaces where clear sound is imperative. Here, we’ve gathered just eight of them.

1. Sound Absorption & Diffusion – Mass timber beams and paneling give words and music a warm, natural sound thanks to wood’s porosity and grain patterns. These tiny pockets help diffuse sound, reducing unwanted echoes and reverberation. Hard, nonporous surfaces, like cement or metal, create a harsh reflective surface that bounces sound back into the space and creates a poor listening experience.
2. Controlling Sound Behavior – Reverberation time (RT60) is a measure of how long it takes for a sound to decrease by 60 decibels. Why 60? Typically, the loudest a symphony plays is 100 decibels, while “quiet” background noise is about 40 decibels. So essentially, RT measures how long it takes for loud noise to fade to nothing.Using mass timber, particularly CLT panels in various arrangements, helps fine-tune RT60 to a desired level to ensure clarity and a pleasant amount of fading for musical pieces. Concert halls normally aim for an RT60 of about 3.5 seconds; lecture halls and sanctuaries, less than 2 seconds.
3. Aesthetic Appeal – The natural look of mass timber adds visual warmth to buildings, particularly in large spaces that can be stark and cold when other materials are used. Being surrounded by timber gives audiences and performers a comforting sense of nature, known as biophilia. (Learn more in our blog post “The Benefits of Biophilic Design.”)
4. Cost Efficiency – Lighter in weight and faster to assemble than comparatively strong steel beams and concrete walls, using mass timber often reduces labor costs. Fuel savings are also realized because of its reduced weight, with fewer truckloads needed to bring the materials to the job site.
5. Sustainability – Timber is a renewable resource, with some species going from sapling to sawn wood in only 20–30 years. During their growth, trees absorb carbon, locking it away within their fibers and keeping it there even after being transformed into mass timber. Compared to steel and concrete, timber has a dramatically smaller carbon footprint, a benefit we discuss in “From Forest to Frame: The Environmental Advantages of Building With Timber.”
6. Speed of Construction – Mass timber components are typically prefabricated off-site, then assembled quickly upon arrival. This can reduce construction time while eliminating the need for fabrication space on-site — and the construction debris that goes with it.
7. Fire Resistance – When exposed to flame, mass timber will char on the outside, keeping the inside intact. Read more about timber’s fire resistance in “Heavy Timber & Fire Resistance: A Closer Look at Safety & Strength.”
8. Flexibility of Design – The strength of mass timber spans allows for large, open spaces, making it ideal for auditoriums and sanctuaries, where support columns would obstruct views and mar the beauty of the space.

Put Into Practice

Examples of timber-built auditoriums can be found around the world, from the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, DC and Groton Hill Music Center in Massachusetts, to Sibelius Hall in Finland, the Tilburg University Lecture Hall in the Netherlands, and the Advanced Engineering Building Auditorium at the University of Queensland in Australia.

Build a Mass Timber Masterpiece

While not a new idea for concert halls and other rooms that require clarity of sound and speech, mass timber is increasingly popular for these spaces thanks to timber’s sustainability, aesthetic appeal, design flexibility, and cost efficiencies. Are you considering a similar project? Consult the mass timber experts at Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.