Designing for Acoustics

Description
Unwanted sound impacts and affects inhabitants of our created spaces, both physiologically and psychologically. If it not already, controlling noise will quickly become a mandated concern for designers. Most acoustic concerns can be addressed with a basic understanding on how sound travels and is reflected, blocked, absorbed, or transmitted by materials and assemblies chosen in designing envelopes. Acoustic design is best addressed in an incremental fashion. Fundamentals are first covered, including basic principles regarding sound, how its energy moves through matter, how its path and intensity can be altered, and how success in the manipulation of sound is measured. Known design strategies are discussed for controlling sound moving; from exterior to interior spaces, from interior spaces to adjacent spaces, within interior spaces, through structural components, and through building systems. Design considerations are outlined for one example occupancy.

Presenter: Paul Spite
Learning Units: 1 LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: AIAPDH519