ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS

ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS

Architectural acoustics (also known as room acoustics and building acoustics ) is the science and engineering of achieving a good sound within a building and is a branch of acoustical engineering.

The first application of modern scientific methods to architectural acoustics was carried out by Wallace Sabine in the Fogg Museum lecture room who then applied his new found knowledge to the design of Symphony Hall, Boston.

Architectural acoustics can be about achieving good speech intelligibility in a theatre, restaurant or railway station, enhancing the quality of music in a concert hallor recording studio, or suppressing noise to make offices and homes more productive and pleasant places to work and live in.

Architectural acoustic design is usually done by acoustic consultants. Building skin enveloped. This science analyzes noise transmission from building exterior envelope to interior and vice versa.

The main noise paths are roofs, eaves, walls, windows, door and penetrations. Sufficient control ensures space functionality and is often required based on building use and local municipal codes.

An example would be providing a suitable design for a home which is to be constructed close to a high volume roadway, or under the flight path of a major airport, or of the airport itself.

The science of limiting and/or controlling noise transmission from one building space to another to ensure space functionality and speech privacy.

The typical sound paths are ceilings, room partitions, acoustic ceiling panels (such as wood dropped ceiling panels), doors , windows , flanking, ducting and other penetrations.

Technical solutions depend on the source of the noise and the path of acoustic transmission, for example noise by steps or noise by (air, water) flow vibrations.

An example would be providing suitable party wall design in an apartment complex to minimise the mutual disturbance due to noise by residents in adjacent apartments.

Diffusers which scatter sound are used in some rooms to improve the acoustics. This is the science of controlling a room’s surfaces based on sound absorbing and reflecting properties.

Sound reflections create standing waves that produce natural resonances that can be heard as a pleasant sensation or an annoying one. Reflective surfaces can be angled and coordinated to provide good coverage of sound for a listener in a concert hall or music recital space.

To illustrate this concept consider the difference between a modern large office meeting room or lecture theater and a traditional classroom with all hard surfaces.