The Wonderful World of Incompatibility

Disneyland, USA is the happiest place on earth. It can fill one's soul with child-like delight, and nothing can ever go wrong there! Very unfortunately, this is not often true of the rest of Los Angeles, where the necessities of the outside world may actually impact a Disney-affiliated structure. The need for transportation in this sprawling metropolis has necessitated a new subway line, which may ruin the acoustics of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall, located in the heart of Los Angeles.

The issue

Los Angeles, the city long plagued by traffic congestion, automobile combustion emissions, and photochemical smog, is trying to diminish their circulation woes with a new $1.37-billion subway. While a shift away from single commuters clogging the L.A. freeways towards public transit may be a cause for excitement among the environmentally aware, it has caused disquiet amongst classical-music lovers.  Perhaps due to the fact that the proposed subway route will allow 135-ton light-rail trains to operate merely 125 feet below the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s underground garage.  Frank Gehry, the architect for this metallic acoustical marvel has announced that allowing such a plan to materialize would be catastrophic for the main function of the building—to house the world famous Los Angeles Philharmonic.  

 

With the light rail trains at 135-tons and running 125 feet below the Disney Concert Hall, music-enthusiasts may have cause for concern.

Noise Pollution and Vibration

Under CEQA's Appendix G, Section XII, noise and vibration may be considered significant if they result in the generation of or exposure to noise or ground vibrations in excess of the thresholds set by the local general plan, or a substantial permanent or temporal increase in ambient noise levels above those existing levels before the project. Yet, according to the Noise Element in the General Plan prepared by the City of Los Angeles' Department of City Planning, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is a quasi-state agency. This means that, unfortunately for the music-lovers, the MTA is exempt from city noise laws. However, the MTA tries to meet or fall below local noise regulations and the federal standard of 85 dBA within 50 feet of a habitable dwelling. The Noise Element also assures that potential noise and vibration are identified and mitigated before any new construction on light rail lines. Significant noise mitigation, it says, has been accomplished by MTA by replacing rails when necessary of installing seamlessly welded rails. Other noise mitigation measures include anti-lock braking systems which prevent tyical wear and tear, new car and wheel design systems that come with noise dampening devices, etc.

 

Studies show that the breath-taking interior of the Walt Disney Concert Hall may be home to rumbles and screeches along with the LA Philharmonic.

What can be done?

To test if the musicophiles were justified in their concerns for the acoustics of Disney Hall, an experiment was conducted on the 23^rd of April, 2013 by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In this investigation, which took place at Thayer Hall (a small underground concert hall even closer to the route than Disney Hall), a piano solo was played at a normal volume through a loudspeaker while subwoofers simulated the sound generated by a passing underground train. Once the test was complete, the subjects indicated that they could indeed hear the trains.

Cushioning to reduce sound in the subterranean tunnels themselves, along with the multitude of currently used options listed in the Noise Element, are possible ways to reduce this noise. The MTA has promised that no sound from the rails will be able to reach the concert hall. To make good on this promise, MTA has hired both noise-abatement consultants and an acoustics expert.

My opinion

This case is a perfect example of how complicated planning can become when differing interests collide. Few Los Angelenos could argue that the city is better off without a large, well maintained, and timely subway system. Yet, on the other hand, influential classical music lovers will surely do all they can to block this light rail extension if it has even the smallest impact on Disney Hall. 

After much thought on this particular case, I feel that a happy medium can be reached as long as architects and musicians alike put their faith in the MTA (while also keeping a close eye on their doings in the EIR and construction process). The technology exists to keep the trains quiet, and as long as funding for maintenance does not dry up, there should be little to no concern for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Perhaps, with a little compromise and patience, the Walk Disney Concert Hall and MTA will have a happy every after.