Modelling 3D Spaces to Anticipate Acoustic Requirements

How to plan the 3D requirements of sound in space?

Importance of acoustic performance

Acoustic performance is a critical aspect of design and especially important for spaces like auditoriums, lecture halls, theaters, conference rooms, classrooms, and recording and broadcast studios.

Complexities of designing acoustically sensitive spaces

A space’s overall acoustic performance depends on several interrelated factors, including its layout, room geometries, ceiling heights, program adjacencies, the size and location of HVAC systems, equipment selection, and any acoustic treatments. Moreover, acoustical spaces like broadcast facilities require specialized AV/IT systems that must be carefully planned to maximize net usable space while connecting to related spaces like control rooms or editing studios. And, the design of these spaces must take into account future growth. If a studio anticipates adding new capabilities over time—like broadcasting or video production—its design should accommodate these facilities and the required AV/IT systems to support them.

Benefits of 3D modeling for acoustic spaces

An architect trained in the design of acoustic spaces can work with clients to determine current production needs, anticipate future ones, and create a 3D model that incorporates architectural, HVAC, AV/IT, and acoustic performance information to explore design possibilities. By consolidating this information in a single model, the architect can test options for program locations, room layouts, HVAC systems design, and AV/IT plans and arrive at the design that aligns best with the client's priorities. The 3D model also provides acoustical engineers the information they need to develop a model that predicts sound behavior in a given space. 

Overcoming common pitfalls in designing for acoustic facilities through modelling

Architects trained in the design of acoustical facilities have the experience and expertise to foresee and resolve the challenges they present. Below, a run-down of some of the most common pitfalls and strategies to overcome them.

• Sound Isolation / Program Adjacencies

  • Challenge: Certain spaces—especially HVAC spaces—generate noise and need to be located away from acoustically sensitive recording studios to ensure optimal performance.

  • Solution: An architect trained in acoustical design can work with clients to determine program and space allocations, and then model the space to determine the most spatially efficient way to locate them away from noise-generating programs

• Background Noise

  • Challenge: Background noise from building systems and exterior conditions like roadways can compromise the acoustic performance of studios and broadcast facilities

  • Solution: With a 3D model, an architect trained in acoustical design can determine the best way of organizing a facility to shield sensitive spaces from background noise. A common approach is to buffer these spaces from outside noise or building systems with quiet program areas, like storage rooms.

• Mechanical Ducts

  • Challenge: The size, height, and location of mechanical ducts all impact how much noise they make, impacting the acoustical performance of a space. Larger ducts have lower airflow velocities and therefore produce less noise, but, they can take up precious space and reduce the usable program area.

  • Solution: Architects can develop a 3D model that helps to find a balance between duct height and usable program space. With the model, architects can coordinate with MEP and structural teams to find the optimal way to run ductwork through the building to avoid interactions with acoustically sensitive spaces

• Ceiling Heights

  • Challenge: Tall ceilings are often necessary to provide the clear height required for lighting / equipment grids and other broadcast related functions, but can reduce the amount of space to run ductwork and IT infrastructure.

  • Solution: As with mechanical ducts, a 3D model allows architects to coordinate their design with structural and mechanical constraints, allowing them to maximize ceiling heights while incorporating these systems.

• Broadcast infrastructure

  • Challenge: Broadcast infrastructure can take up a significant amount of space and must be connected in a logical, efficient way with dependent spaces like mixing studios and control rooms. More, as new AV/IT infrastructure is developed or studios expand their capabilities, more systems may need to be run.

  • Solution: An integrated 3D model that incorporates architectural and AV/IT information can help architects determine the optimal way to run systems through a given space and allocate enough room to accommodate future systems.

• Room geometries

  • Challenge: The geometry of a room itself has a significant impact on its acoustical performance. Large cavernous rooms can cause reverberations, and rooms with many irregular corners can distort sound and make it difficult to record, mix, and master professional audio.

  • Solution: With a 3D model, an architect can locate acoustically sensitive facilities in rooms that are optimally shaped for recording, mixing, and mastering.
    
    

Case Study: LinkedIn Learning

When LinkedIn began developing Linkedin Learning—a program offering classes in software, creative, and business skills—the company consulted Interdisciplinary Architecture to design soundstages at offices world-wide where industry experts could record video courses. The service now has over 17 million users. As part of their ongoing collaboration with LinkedIn, IA has designed: