Title. Robert Day Science Center
About the location. This soundscape was recorded at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the lobby of the Robert Day Science Center (RDSC). This is Claremont McKenna College’s new science building, which has a unique architectural setup: three off-center triangular floors that are open in the center to allow for a view of the top of the building from the ground floor. This is a classroom, research, and study space for students, and it contains a cafe on the ground floor beneath the lobby.
About the soundscape. This soundscape demonstrates the echoey nature of RDSC due to the large amount of open space, where voices travel. You can hear people chatting on the Chodosh social steps, as well as an order being called in at the beginning of the recording. This acts as a vocal signal, standing out from the murmur of other voices in the space. The employee yelling the order wants to be heard and to signal to someone that their food is ready. She may have been one of the farthest people from the recorder, but she is one that you can hear most clearly. There is a whirring, a technical* element that is necessary in a lab space, acting as a keynote. This is what the space would sound like if no students or employees were habituating it; it is the fundamental tone of the space. The space where this was recorded, the main space right when you step inside, is the noisiest part of RDSC. As you move outward and upward from this area, the space becomes quieter, and there is less conversation, as this is where the study spaces begin.
Keywords.
Study space, food, social
Date, time, and location of recording.
March 4, 2026. 4:30pm 681 Claremont Blvd, Claremont, CA 91711
Recording equipment. TASCAM DR-40 Linear PCM Recorder, handheld
