Building Performance Knowledge Community

Stephen, 

Glad to hear you took advantage of the 3-hr. engineering class. How much time was devoted to acoustics? All three, or just a portion? What school?

You: "I will say it is one thing that most architects do not possess a solid understanding of when they graduate or even get registered." Yes. I've yet to meet an architect that learned anything about acoustics in school. That's why I wrote the book.

I've learned acoustics from industry groups (ASHRAE) focused on HVAC systems design, sales reps (vibration and silencers), work as a WELL Performance Testing agent (from IWBI) as well as references from digging into the LEED acoustics credits and my time on the EQ Technical Advisory... Currently our acoustics team here is doing an AIA presentation roadshow for a presentation titled "Architecture Has Ears: Acoustics Basics for Better Buildings".

Happy to make any connections if folks are interested or have questions on acoustics.

Our team has a number of other acoustics-focused presentations, as well: 

• Noise Control 101
• Acoustical Application in Healthcare
• Acoustical Performance in Buildings
• Mechanical Noise - HVAC
• WELL: Sound Concept
• Acoustic Enhancement Systems
• Prefabricated Partitions in a Hospital Clinic
• ICD 705 and SCIF Design (Specialization: Secure Facilities)

Hi Sarah,

It's nice to see people in the AEC trades paying attention to acoustics. What concerns me is the attendee's lack of almost any acoustical foundation, knowledge, or even a basic acoustical vocabulary to use when hearing or seeing the various manufacturer's presentations. 

As I think we all know, built environments always start with needing a solid foundation for the workloads that are planed. With these points in mind, I just published a new book. It's a low-tech, reference guide titled, Acoustic Essentials for Architects. It provides the foundational building blocks on acoustics for architects, designers, and anyone else interested in the subject of sound and acoustics.