Sound isolation design options for mixed-use buildings

Abstract

During the design of mixed-use buildings, developers typically have a general idea about the types of commercial tenants that will be in the building. However, those ideas can change after the building has been designed or built, and can range from an office space to retail to a fitness center to a restaurant with live music. This presents a challenge for noise control design to limit noise in residences located above the commercial spaces. Although some noise mitigation measures can be included as part of tenant improvements, the result may be limited by the building base structure decided upon when some commercial uses had not been originally considered. This paper discusses a menu of noise control design options for mixed-use buildings to separate commercial and residential spaces so a developer can make informed decisions about what types of commercial tenants to allow, core and shell constructions, costs of potential tenant improvements, and which options provide the most flexibility.