Open plan office acoustics – a multidimensional optimization problem
Acoustic design of open-plan offices and comparison of requirements in the Nordic countries
In the Nordic countries, most office buildings include open-plan offices. However, to optimize working conditions, such spaces require special acoustic design to achieve reasonable sound attenuation between groups and satisfactory speech intelligibility within groups, although truly optimal working conditions can never be expected. This paper describes and compares the current requirements and recommendations for open-plan […]
Suggested acoustical requirements for restaurants, canteens, and cafeterias
The concept of “universal design” means accessibility for all in public buildings, and this includes the acoustical conditions. The acoustical challenges are particularly pronounced in restaurants and similar dining facilities. Elderly people and people with impaired hearing, in particular, rank restaurants high on the list of public spaces with serious acoustical problems. The most important […]
Sound propagation and distribution around typical train carbody structures
The acoustics of the Pi-shaped Greek theatre in Kalydon, Aitolia
The ancient Greek theatre in Kalydon (Αρχαία Καλυδώνα), Aitolia, has a special shape with a square orchestra and a Pi-shaped koilon. The seat rows of the lower section (rows 1 to 9) are straight and meet at a right angle between the wings and the central part, whereas the seat rows of the upper section […]
Simulations and subjective rating of acoustic conditions in a symphony orchestra. A case study
Acoustic conditions in a symphony orchestra on a concert hall stage are very different from those on an empty stage. Since inter-orchestral sound transmission and other acoustic conditions with the orchestra present are easier to simulate than to measure, a method for simulating orchestras in ODEON models of different rooms was developed by the author. […]
Assessment of Wave-based Methods for Room Acoustic Simulations
Room acoustic simulations performed with wave-based methods are becoming feasible alternatives to geometrical acoustics thanks to the increasing power of computers. In this preliminary study, two of these methods are investigated: the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method and the Equivalent Source Method (ESM). The Image Source Method (ISM) is also used as a reference […]
Acoustical Renovation of the Jyväskylä Sinfonia Rehearsal Hall
Jyväskylä Sinfonia is a small symphony orchestra with 38 musicians, conducted by Ville Matvejeff. The orchestra performs 1–2 times per week, and its repertoire consists mostly of baroque, symphonic, and contemporary music. The rehearsal hall used by Jyväskylä Sinfonia is located on the top floor of a shopping centre (Fig. 1), originally built in 1938. […]
The acoustic design of a multipurpose hall
This paper presents the acoustic design of a 285-seat multipurpose hall at Kangasala Art Centre in Finland. Kangasala, a small municipality located next to Tampere, wanted to create an arts venue for a wide variety of high-standard performances to liven up the quiet town. The design goal was to create a multipurpose hall for different […]
Atmospheric Room Acoustic Normalization in the Oslo Opera House
The room acoustics in the main auditorium, Store Sal, at the Oslo Opera were measured on three different occasions in 2023. The purpose was to verify that the perceived room acoustics of the hall remained unchanged after modifying the mounting of the balcony ceilings. The original reflective wooden panels were glued and had begun to […]
