Focus on Acoustics: Mixed Use Buildings
October 1, 2011
Many cities are changing their zoning laws to allow for the development of mixed-use buildings or re-development sites. This means that many planning committees that once favored the suburban planning model of residences in one part of town and business
Focus on Acoustics: Ceiling Treatments
August 1, 2009
Note: TA provided this article for the August 2009 issue of Buildings. Good acoustical design is an integral part of making a space fulfill its purpose. Whether we’re looking at retail space, a restaurant, open-plan offices, a videoconference room, a
Focus on Acoustics: Sound Isolation between Workstations
October 1, 2008
As with all matters acoustical, things seem to come in waves. The latest revolution of problems to solve: private offices along window walls in office buildings. People have been complaining they hear everything that is said on the other side
Quiet Curtains: A Product with Potential
February 1, 2008
Draperies and curtains have long been used as a cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and adjustable means of acoustic treatment within a room. The thick, heavy fabric provides useful sound absorption and reverberation control, especially at middle and high frequencies. Quiet Curtains
Soundproof Windows?
January 1, 2005
It’s late at night and you’ve just settled down to sleep, when the neighborhood dog starts barking – loudly. At first you try ignoring it, then as it continues, you try covering your head with your pillow. Just as you
The Code of Silence
October 1, 2000
Maxwell Smart’s Cone of Silence was a nice idea. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to use such a device in today’s busy and energetic society? Well, for some types of noise it has been possible for a person
Peach Piracy?
April 1, 1994
Speech privacy (peach piracy) exists when a conversation cannot be understood even if it can be heard. There are 4 levels of speech privacy; normal, confidential, inaudibility and none. Normal speech privacy exists when someone can only partially understand the
Office Acoustics
March 1, 1993
A question we are frequently asked by Project Managers is how can we improve the acoustical privacy between offices and work stations? The level of acoustical privacy is defined as the amount of conversation that can be heard and understood