Low frequency sound problems found in mixed use buildings that house entertainment venues and residential developments and containment options.

Abstract

Many problems are to be expected when mixed use buildings include restaurants and residential spaces. When the residential spaces are condominiums and the restaurant becomes a nightclub, the sound problems multiply quickly. The low frequency sound produced in a nightclub featuring music catering to a young crowd is of particular concern. This is partially because of the difficulty of finding remedies once the building construction is complete. This is the situation that arose in a facility recently completed. The nightclub wanted to continue its operation while the condominium owners wanted a resolution of the problem. Sound tests were completed in the residential spaces during operation of the nightclub, but the low frequency content was not always the same, requiring multiple attempts to measure in the source and receiving spaces. Results of these measurements and the recommendations for correcting the problem are presented in this paper. The goal is to provide results of sound measurements made after the recommendations are implemented. Again, sound will be measured in the source and receiver spaces to understand how the noise reduction changed and compared with the predicted sound reduction.