Hot topics in architectural acoustics.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a surge of research and policy‐making motivated by the grand challenges of environmental sustainability and societal health. Two hot topics in these areas that have a direct relationship to architectural acoustics are green buildings and hospitals. The green building movement centers around designing buildings that are more sustainable in order to decrease energy consumption, minimize environmental impact, and create healthier spaces for occupants. In the area of hospital acoustics, there is strong and growing evidence of the negative psychological and physiological impacts of a poor hospital soundscape on patients, staff, and visitors. Unique materials, systems, and technologies are being utilized in both green design and hospital design to satisfy the complex requirements, including unique acoustic requirements, of these spaces. Much effort is being put toward specifically incorporating acoustics into the various green building and hospital design guidelines.