Architectural Acoustics

Architectural Acoustics
Food for thought:
• The study of acoustics is intrinsically architectural.
• In order to fully experience architecture, one must begin to view it

from the perspective of the senses.
• Human perception of sound is considered the "ultimate test of the

acoustical performance of a space”.
• Acoustics is the science of sound: the qualities in a room that make it

easy or difficult for a person in it to hear distinctly.
What is Acoustics?
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all
mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids, including vibration, sound,
ultrasound and infrasound.
The application of acoustics is present in almost all aspects of modern society

with the most obvious being the audio and noise control industries.
The study of acoustics revolves around the generation, propogation, and

reception of mechanical waves and vibrations.
Why Acoustics Matters
Heal Learn Rest Live

Why Acoustics Matters
Good acoustics can create a better space to live, work, and play.
• Acoustics is important to the healing process in healthcare facilities,
• Creates a better educational environment in schools,
• Provides an essential component to quest satisfaction in hospitality.
In short…
Acoustics are a cornerstone to enjoy life.

The Value of Silence
• Hospitals strive for rooms that are properly equipped for patient recovery
and privacy.
• Hotels recognize that quality acoustics provide the best overnight

experience for their guests. Studies show that hotel guests rate noise as a top
complaint.
• Acoustics considerations are important – in education, healthcare, in

business…and beyond.
Educational Environment Acoustics
• Quality acoustics is essential to a healthy learning

environment.
• Designing for good acoustics can improve student

and teacher communication, student test scores,
and help to improve the overall quality of
education.
Residential Acoustics
Not being able to properly relax, work, sleep, entertain friends, etc, in your
own private can be quite frustrating.
Excessive and repetitive noise isn’t just annoying. It can also:
• Be a health hazard
• Affect your hearing
• Impact your ability to concentrate
• Increase your stress level

Close The Door On Noise

Acoustics for your health, happiness and
peace of mind.
From hospitals to homes, from schools to

hotels, attention to acoustical design
enhances the experience in many different
ways
Close The Door On Noise

Acoustics for your health, happiness and
peace of mind.
The acoustic performance of a room is only as

good as the weakest link.
Doors…often the most direct sound path, can

compromise an excellent acoustic design
Architectural acoustics
…Also known as room acoustics or building acoustics, is the science and
engineering of achieving a good sound within a building.
Architectural acoustics can be about:

• Achieving good speech intelligibility in a theatre, restaurant or railway
station;
• Enhancing the quality of music in a concert hall or recording studio;
• Or suppressing noise to make offices and homes more productive and

pleasant places to work and live in.
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all
mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids, including vibration, sound,
ultrasound and infrasound.
VS
Also known as room acoustics or building acoustics, is the science and

engineering of achieving a good sound within a building.
The study of architectural acoustics can be broken down into three categories:
1. Building Skin Envelope
2. Inter-Space Noise Control
3. Interior space acoustics

1) Building Skin Envelope
This science analyzes noise transmission from building exterior envelope to

interior and vice versa.
The main noise paths are roofs,

eaves, walls, windows, doors
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.
2) Inter-Space Noise Control
This is the science of limiting and/or controlling noise transmission from one
building space to another to ensure space functionality and speech privacy.
2) Inter-Space Noise Control
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 minimize the mutual disturbance due to noise by residents in
adjacent apartments.
3) Interior space acoustics
This is the science of controlling a room's surfaces based on sound absorbing

and reflecting properties.
Excessive reverberation time (echoes), which can be calculated, can lead to

poor speech intelligibility.
Interior building surfaces can be constructed of many different materials and

finishes to achieve the ideal acoustical experience.
3) Interior space acoustics (cont’d)
There are three ways to improve room acoustics and solve interior room sound
problems – This is called the ABCs.
A = Absorb
(via drapes, carpets, ceiling tiles, etc.)
B = Block
(via panels, walls, floors, ceilings and layout)
C = Cover-up
(via sound masking)

Mechanical Equipment Noise
Building services noise control is the science of controlling noise produced by:
• HVAC,
• Elevators,
• Electrical generators positioned within or attached to a building,
• Any other building service infrastructure component that emits sound.

Mechanical Equipment Noise
Inadequate control may lead to elevated sound levels within the space which
can be annoying and reduce speech intelligibility.

Architectural Acoustics

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Architectural Acoustics

• The study of acoustics is intrinsically architectural.

• In order to fully experience architecture, one must begin to view it

• Human perception of sound is considered the "ultimate test of the

• Acoustics is the science of sound: the qualities in a room that make it

The application of acoustics is present in almost all aspects of modern society

The study of acoustics revolves around the generation, propogation, and

Heal Learn Rest Live

• Acoustics is important to the healing process in healthcare facilities,

• Creates a better educational environment in schools,

• Provides an essential component to quest satisfaction in hospitality.

Acoustics are a cornerstone to enjoy life.

• Hotels recognize that quality acoustics provide the best overnight

• Acoustics considerations are important – in education, healthcare, in

• Quality acoustics is essential to a healthy learning

• Designing for good acoustics can improve student

Excessive and repetitive noise isn’t just annoying. It can also:

• Affect your hearing

• Impact your ability to concentrate

• Increase your stress level

Close The Door On Noise

From hospitals to homes, from schools to

Close The Door On Noise

The acoustic performance of a room is only as

Doors…often the most direct sound path, can

Architectural acoustics can be about:

• Enhancing the quality of music in a concert hall or recording studio;

• Or suppressing noise to make offices and homes more productive and

Also known as room acoustics or building acoustics, is the science and

1. Building Skin Envelope

2. Inter-Space Noise Control

3. Interior space acoustics

This science analyzes noise transmission from building exterior envelope to

The main noise paths are roofs,

Sufficient control ensures space

An example would be providing a suitable design for a home which is to be

An example would be providing suitable party wall design in an apartment

This is the science of controlling a room's surfaces based on sound absorbing

Excessive reverberation time (echoes), which can be calculated, can lead to

Interior building surfaces can be constructed of many different materials and

(via drapes, carpets, ceiling tiles, etc.)

(via panels, walls, floors, ceilings and layout)

(via sound masking)

• Electrical generators positioned within or attached to a building,

• Any other building service infrastructure component that emits sound.

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