CHPS 3: Acoustic Performance

CHPS EQ P15.0 Acoustic Performance

The acoustic quality within learning spaces can greatly affect student and teacher success within the classroom. Excessive noise and reverberation can lead to unwanted distractions and unnecessary straining of teacher vocal chords and student ears. In order to provide adequate acoustics within the school, spaces were carefully designed to balance 4 elements:

• Sound reverberation: sound waves that bounce off surfaces and can cause sound to become blurred or distorted. 
• Background noise: noise coming from heating/air conditioning systems within the space or noise coming from spaces surrounding the room.
•  Sound isolation: noise that moves through walls, doors, windows, floors, pipes and ducts from other spaces.
• Audio Distribution Systems: sound speakers centrally located or distributed throughout the space

At Miller Middle School, the design team developed an acoustic report to model spaces throughout the building during design and study how proper acoustics could be achieved. Extensive testing was also done after construction of the building to verify that installed conditions align with calculations conducted during design. Throughout the building you can find a number of features that enhance acoustics:

• Sound-absorbing and sound reflecting wall panels within larger, louder spaces (Music, Practice Rooms, Art Workshop, Science, Gym, Dining Acoustic ceiling panels in learning spaces and specialty ceiling pyramids within music rooms where unique sound considerations are needed. 
• High quality doors, operable partitions, windows, walls, and floors to minimize sound transfer between spaces.