Omar Ureta ARCH 464 Reading Response 10 Can You Hear Me Now?

One of the least important design considerations, the acoustic environment has been downplayed and often neglected as a means for comfort. Reduction of materials and the open floor plan has greatly increased the amount of noise coming from both the interior and exterior. To mitigate the amount of sound distributed across a building, SteinReynolds list three elements- a sound source, a sound transmission path or paths, and a receiver of the sound. ( The sound source, as Peter Grueneisen writes, travels along a medium by sound waves. Depending on the context of the situation, sound must be either reduced or enhanced. Room design can either direct the sound by the acoustic qualities of the material in the building. To reach a wide audience without electronic effort, a new indoor auditorium can have reflective angled ceilings to direct the source to the receiving area. As the sound travels across this space it is then absorbed in the rear to reduce the amount of echo to the listener. Not limited to large spaces, smaller spaces such as an office next to a busy roadway can have a combination of reflective and absorption materials to achieve the desired background noise in a room based on NC data or noise criteria . Enclosures that are heavy, made of several composite layers, structurally separated and airtight are ideal for effective sound-insulating. (Grueneisen 68) In existing buildings where the comfort of sound is outside of the limits of the noise criteria, additional materials can be added to reduce or direct emitted sounds. A multipurpose room can have loudspeaker systems installed to direct the sound to the listener. A delayed signal towards the rear can carry the sound waves further as they are diffused across the space. (Stein-Reynolds 793) One of the most mitigated sounds within an existing building is that of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The equipment itself generates the noise and noise control must be implemented. Noise from HVAC ductwork for example can be reduced by either increasing the airflow distances or adding sound-absorbing duct liner. (Grueneisen 71)