Research about the effect of reverberation time reduction on students and their performance was carried out by Henk W. Brink. Study Overview This study explored an alteration of the classrooms’ reverberation time (RT). This lead to acoustic conditions meeting quality class A of Dutch guidelines, resulting in a positive effect on students’ perceptions and performance. […]
research
Architecture and Autism, shared spaces and sensory escape
On Friday, 28 November 2025, the BeSENSHome research group will host the international workshop “Architecture and autism, shared spaces and sensory escape”. Participation in the event at the University of Trieste is possible in person or online (see registration below). The event brings together researchers, designers, educators, and professionals. To explore how built environments can […]
Remodelling of open plan De Werkplaats primary school – acoustic design and operational challenges – School case study 4
Introduction De Werkplaats in Bilthoven, (NL) inspired by Kees Boeke’s educational philosophy, was designed as a progressive primary school with open learning environments. The aim: to stimulate collaboration, autonomy and inclusivity. In practice, however, the open spaces proved to pose considerable acoustic and organisational challenges. This led to a large-scale remodel, during which objective and […]
From Theory to Reality : Assessing Predictive Models for comparison of Reverberation Time results
Guest post by Marco Caniato University of Applied Science HFT of Stuttgart, based on his recent presentation at Forum Acousticum / Euronoise 2025 conference in Málaga. Background Reverberation time (RT) is a fundamental parameter in room acoustics, directly affecting speech intelligibility, comfort, and the overall acoustic quality of a space. Yet, despite decades of research […]
Enhancing Acoustic Design In Open-Plan Offices
At Forum Acusticum / Euronoise 2025 in Málaga, Rainer Machner presented a study that blends technical rigour with practical application. Together with Holger Brokmann and Dr. Achim Klein from Saint-Gobain Ecophon, he explored how the simplified ISO 3382-3 prediction model can support faster and more user-focused acoustic design in open-plan offices. Traditionally, ISO 3382-3 is […]
From RT to Clarity. A Simpler Way to Assess Classroom Speech Intelligibility
Guest post by Deniss Mironovs, acoustic consultant at Akukon / Researcher at RTU / PhD Introduction Speech Intelligibility is one of the main attributes of a well-functioning classroom or auditorium. It is widely known, that learning outcomes depend on the acoustical conditions of the classrooms. Common practice is to use reverberation time RT as a […]
Classroom Noise: How Activities Shape the Sound Environment
A guest post by Chiara Visentin, a researcher at the University of Ferrara, Italy Background While noise sources like traffic or ventilation systems can contribute to classroom acoustics, in primary schools the dominant and most persistent sound is the students’ own activity and communication. Talking, moving, shifting chairs and desks all contribute to a highly dynamic […]
Replicating Performance Venues in Virtual Reality for Performance Preparation
Guest post by Carly J. Wingfield from The School of Music, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA. Introduction Singers often adjust their vocal production based on the acoustics and visual aspects of a performance venue, which can differ greatly from the typical rehearsal space. This mismatch can lead to changes in technique and increased anxiety due […]
The problems of open learning environments are not high sound levels but other disturbances caused by school activities
Study by Turku University of Applied Sciences Study overview A new study published in Building and Environment and recently presented at Forum Acousticum Euronoise 2025 in Malaga found that teaching staff were dissatisfied with open and flexible learning spaces, even though the sound levels during activities were slightly lower in open than in traditional enclosed […]
Predicting the distraction due to speech and babble
Task-irrelevant speech is among the most common and disruptive sources of noise in modern office environments. For acousticians, the challenge has long been: how do we objectively assess the distraction caused by such fluctuating, speech-dominated environments using tools readily available in the field? A new study by Hongisto et al. (2025) offers a solution. It […]
