No One Should Notice The Sound:
The Importance of Acoustical Planning
One night I awoke to what sounded like a woman screaming outside. I jumped to the window to see if I could find her. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could still hear the high-pitched scream. Eeeee, Eeeee, Eeeee. Over and over in an equal rhythm. I turned to see if my husband heard it, and I realized that the noise was coming from him as he slept…his nose whistled as he breathed in and out.
Even the smallest sound can be deceiving. It can be annoying, disruptive, and even unhealthy. But, in the right circumstances, sound can be beautiful, informative, and entertaining. Architecturally, sound can make or break the experience for the building occupant.
More than ever, architects realize their role and responsibility to address acoustics in their designs. In our recent surveys, most architects, about 87%, consider sound control in their designs. But only 43% use an acoustical consultant.
I talked with Jay Perdue, owner of Perdue Acoustics, to learn more about how sound is addressed in architectural design. I learned that a proper acoustical plan should consider not only the sound coming from an adjacent space but also the sound generated within the space.
Perdue specializes in ensuring that the sound created within the space supports the room’s purpose. As Jay explains, “Form should always follow function.....
