When CJS Architects took on the modernization of Charlotte High School in Rochester, New York, they inherited a challenge that was as much acoustic as it was architectural. The centerpiece of the project was a striking octagonal space with a 40-foot diameter drum ceiling, originally called the "Lantern" in the building's historic drawings. Over the years, the room had grown dull and acoustically compromised, and the renovation team needed a solution that could handle both the performance demands of a music space and the aesthetic demands of a landmark building.

The answer was BASWA Phon 40mm Classic Base Finish, installed across 1,200 square feet of ceiling surface. The product's seamless, monolithic finish allowed the design team to achieve the look of traditional plaster while delivering measurable sound absorption across low and high frequencies. Crucially, its non-water-soluble properties made it compatible with the water-based paints used for an elaborate hand-painted ceiling design that now orients visitors to True North like a grand compass.

The result earned an AIA Interior Design/Environmental Rehabilitation award and a ringing endorsement from the architect: a space that had been overlooked for decades now glows at night, visible from the street below as a genuine lantern for the community.

For the full project story, including details on the on-site installer training, the design process, and the finished space, visit the Charlotte High School portfolio entry.

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Read more on the BASWA Portfolio.