Located within the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the Baird Auditorium renovation restores one of Washington’s most historic public venues to contemporary standards for clarity, comfort, and performance. The project renews the auditorium’s acoustic and architectural character while preserving its distinctive neoclassical volume and relationship to the Museum’s central axis.
LSTN Consultants provided acoustic design services for the renovation in collaboration with SmithGroup and Theatre Projects. Our design included analysis of room geometry, material selection, and sound isolation strategies to support a broad range of programming, including public lectures and films to live music and institutional events. The design balances historic preservation with modern acoustic performance, ensuring a transparent and natural sound field that supports both the spoken word and amplified events within one of the nation’s most visited museums.
