Sound isolation systems and HVAC noise control: The hidden acoustical systems in music practice and rehearsal spaces

Abstract

An important part of the design and acoustical performance of music education spaces are the sound isolation systems employed to reduce sound bleed between and among different spaces and the designed control of noise and vibration from building mechanical systems. Three case studies present challenges addressed in actual projects. One is a multi-story fine arts building at a university where all of the major acoustical spaces are built as rooms within rooms and the HVAC is distributed from a large rooftop mechanical room. The second is a single storey building at a public high school where primary, secondary, and tertiary sound separations, and HVAC system zones are clearly defined and describe the basic architecture of the facility. The third describes the steps in design required to transform significant acoustical difficulties in sound transmission and HVAC system noise into an expressive architectural and acoustical space built on a very modest budget.