Schools globally take on a daily responsibility: to provide the very best environment in which students can grow and thrive. And they need to do it equitably; true inclusivity means that no child gets left behind regardless of background or level of ability. But schools also need to think about the greater context. By raising […]
Friday the 13th of May Emma Arvidsson (EA) did her Ph.D. dissertation at Lund’s University (Sweden) under the title ‘Acoustic Design with Regard to Human Perception’. Ordinary Public Rooms From many years of research, we know that ordinary public rooms (classrooms and offices) where complex tasks such as learning or following long chains of thought […]
A new report finds that far too many European schools neglect their sound environment. Noise harms children’s learning and health and creates inequalities for students with special needs. More schools should regularly measure noise levels and design according to acoustic standards and recommendations in order to provide optimal learning environments, that have the added benefit […]
To create a school environment that works well from an auditory perspective, the acoustics must meet the needs associated with the purpose of the premises. Good acoustics are an investment in teachers’ occupational wellbeing, learning and comfort. “I have teaching spaces that work well for me.“ This is what Heikki Ylhäinen, fifth-grade teacher for a […]
Sustainable building practices are here to stay and the number of building projects involving Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) is growing rapidly. However, from an office worker’s perspective, exposed concrete walls and ceilings create acoustic environments where it’s virtually impossible to communicate and concentrate. This detailed TABS Knowledge Guide explains how acoustic ceiling coverage impacts cooling […]
If we improve an acoustic environment, usually we reduce noise level and reverberation time. When an unexpected situation occurs, reductions are not reached, but… Consider activities before making your conclusion! This study was conducted in 2021 in the Customer Service Centre of ČEZ in Děčín. ČEZ Group is the biggest energy company in the Czech […]
The Italian government has distinguished itself by allowing its building policies for school environments to be guided by overwhelming scientific evidence linking classroom acoustics to academic performance. Now the world has a strong example to follow in the shape of the newly published Italian acoustic standard for schools, UNI 11532-2. In 2020, Italy initiated a […]
Designing a holistic indoor environment can be challenging. It will often entail several compromises between quality of different aspects of well-being. It is extremely rare that a solution comes along that both enhances indoor comfort, reduces complexity of design while also saving money and lowering emissions. It definitely is extremely rare, but it happens. Diffuse […]
How children make sense of the complex signals they hear in the classroom depends partly on their hearing and cognitive abilities. But newly published research shows more about the important part played by the acoustic environment in this process; specifically, the role of reverberation time. The ability to make sense of what you are hearing […]
In many older hospital buildings, noise is disruptive and continuous; for this reason, particular attention was paid to the acoustics in the new intensive and intermediate care unit in Seinäjoki, Finland. According to a nationwide study, on average 55% of those working in healthcare would like to see improvements to the sound environment of working facilities. […]