Theaters
Theaters (Opera, Drama, Play Theatres), also known as performance venues, can be specialized for a single function, such as opera theaters, drama theaters, or traditional opera theaters, or they can be multi-purpose theaters capable of hosting performances of opera, drama, and traditional opera. Since most theaters built and used in China are multi-purpose theaters, and sometimes also used for conferences and galas, the acoustic design of a theater must simultaneously consider and balance relevant indicators of language and music, that is, take into account the requirements for clarity of speech and lyrics and fullness of music during performances. When a theater is multi-purpose, its technical requirements should be determined according to its primary function, while other uses should be appropriately considered.

Common acoustic problems in theaters, as performance venues, include excessively long reverberation times due to the large volume of the hall, uneven sound field due to numerous and widely distributed seats, insufficient loudness and clarity of sound in some areas, and acoustic defects such as sound focusing, multiple echoes, and sound shadow zones caused by improper material structure or design. To achieve optimal performance results in the theater, the interior decoration materials must not only meet the acoustic requirements of the performance but also consider their decorative style, aesthetics, and compatibility with the theater's overall design.

The theater's acoustic design should be carried out without altering or with minimal changes to the existing decorative design style. The walls serve as the primary acoustic treatment interface. The lower part of the side walls utilizes sound-absorbing materials and structures, while the upper part can be complemented with reflectors. The rear wall is suitable for using strong sound-absorbing materials to prevent the direct sound from the stage from amplifying reverberation and causing uneven sound field and other acoustic problems. For the ceiling, a stepped suspended ceiling can be considered, using materials with good reflective properties, such as GRG (glass fiber reinforced gypsum board), which is conducive to the even propagation of sound energy. The stage, as the main performance venue and primary sound source, must produce clean direct sound without excessive reverberation; therefore, the use of strong sound-absorbing materials is preferred.

Auditorium (Meeting Hall)
An auditorium is a venue for gatherings, ceremonies, and performances. It represents a good combination of national government and public cultural infrastructure. Some government agencies may also refer to it as a meeting hall, but its function is more geared towards meetings. Whether used for performances or conferences, auditoriums require professional acoustic design. They must offer excellent speech intelligibility and musical clarity, with a well-designed reverberation time. Attention must be paid to the auditorium's shape and structure to avoid sound quality problems such as parallel echoes, sound focusing, and sound shadow zones.

Auditoriums often function as gathering spaces, accommodating large numbers of people. Therefore, they are large in size, fully functional, and have specific architectural features, often including a stage and a distinctive stepped floor, similar to theaters. Thus, in addition to the ceiling and walls requiring specific acoustic design, areas such as the stepped floor and performance stage must also be considered holistically.

Given the auditorium's conference function, to ensure good speech intelligibility, the acoustic design prioritizes sound absorption, supplemented by diffusion and reflection, with a reverberation time lower than that of theater-type venues. For wall design, the primary focus is on installing sound-absorbing materials or structures, supplemented by materials with good reflective properties such as diffusers or reflectors. The ceiling design should  be a suspended ceiling with design corresponds to the raised floor levels. For the floor, softer materials such as carpet or soft PVC panels are preferred.

Concert Halls:

Concert halls have a specific purpose: venues for musical performances and related activities. They primarily utilize natural sound. Concert halls are not only the highest-level venues for modern musical performances but also crucial sites for laying the foundations of architectural acoustics theory—the first venue designed and built using architectural acoustics principles was a concert hall, a foundational work of American physicist William Sabine. Therefore, concert halls often have extremely high acoustic quality requirements, necessitating rigorous and rational acoustic design.

Besides a suitable reverberation time, concert halls require clarity of sound, uniformity of sound field, and lateral reflections within an appropriate range. The building's shape is also a significant factor, which must be fully considered during the architectural design phase to avoid acoustic problems such as multiple echoes, sound focusing, and sound shadow zones caused by inappropriate shape.

Besides human voices, the main sound sources in a concert hall are musical instruments. During the design phase, different acoustic materials must be selected and matched according to the characteristics of the instruments (such as plucked string instruments and bowed string instruments) to balance the differences in timbre, intensity, and other elements, ensuring a balanced and harmonious overall effect for all instruments played within the concert hall. Since concert halls primarily rely on natural sound, in addition to basic sound absorption treatments, it is also necessary to enhance sound diffusion and reflection within the hall. This can be achieved through methods such as installing diffusers on the walls and hanging reflectors on the ceiling, resulting in excellent sound energy reflection and transmission.