Background
UNTIL Limited commissioned Anderson Acoustics to provide acoustic advice for their new gymnasium located at 105 Wigmore Street, London. The gym, situated in the basement of the building, required careful acoustic planning to ensure minimal noise disturbance to adjacent spaces, including offices and reception areas.
The gym spans two floors, with the main gym area located in Basement 1 and additional treatment and consultation rooms on the ground floor. The gym will feature strength, resistance, and cardio equipment, and will play amplified music during operation.
Acoustic Challenges
- Airborne Noise Transfer: Noise from gym activities, including amplified music and personal training sessions, needed to be controlled to prevent disturbance to the building’s reception area and adjacent offices.
- Vibration-Induced Noise: The dropping of heavy weights posed a risk of vibration-induced noise transferring through the building structure, potentially disturbing other occupants.
Acoustic Solutions
Airborne Noise Control:
- Design Criteria: Specific noise level targets were set for different areas to ensure minimal disturbance.
- Sound Insulation Testing: Tests were conducted to measure the existing sound insulation levels and predict noise transfer.
- Recommendations: Installation of resilient mounts for loudspeakers, and sealing off open staircases with well-sealed doors and solid partitions to control noise transfer.
Vibration-Induced Noise Control:
- Design Criteria: Targets were established for re-radiated noise levels in adjacent spaces.
- Impact Noise Testing: Various floor build-ups were tested to determine the best solution for minimizing vibration-induced noise.
- Recommendations: Use of specific floor build-ups in designated areas to absorb impact noise from weight drops.
Result
The acoustic design recommendations we provided ensured that the gym could operate without causing significant noise disturbance to adjacent spaces. The proposed solutions effectively controlled both airborne and vibration-induced noise, creating a comfortable environment for both gym users and other building occupants.
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