As well as sponsoring next month’s Design in Mental Health 2026 Conference, Exhibition and Awards in Coventry, we are very proud to announce that Caroline McKinlay has also been invited to present her IoA Diploma research project on school dining hall acoustics and has a speaker slot on day 2.
School acoustics is often discussed in the context of classrooms. This research is a useful reminder that dining halls also shape pupil experience. They are social spaces, and in many schools they also function as multi-purpose halls for assemblies, PE, performances and exams.
The study combined objective acoustic measurements with pupil feedback to understand what influences listening comfort in school dining halls. The findings of her research highlight why dining halls can feel loud even where BB93 criteria are met, and what practical steps can improve listening comfort and inclusion. If we want school buildings to work well for everyone, it’s important to look beyond teaching spaces and consider where pupils spend time lunching, socialising, and resetting during the day.
Head to the Design and Digital Solutions Theatre at the Coventry Building Society Arena and join the session to learn more.
