Background
Brunel University needed to undertake refurbishment works in 26 teaching rooms to provide a lecture capture system.
We were commissioned by Kendall Kingscott Ltd to test the room acoustics performance and provide acoustic design advice to ensure the acoustic conditions were capable of supporting the lecture capture system to provide good clarity of speech and intelligibility.
What we did
Existing teaching spaces did not have dedicated sound absorbent finishes, resulting in long reverberation times which are not conducive to good speaking and listening or recording conditions.
- We visited site to carry out benchmark testing of reverberation times in all 26 teaching spaces;
- we conducted a photo record of all rooms to understand existing finishes and dimensions;
- we measured reverberation times using balloon bursts as the impulsive noise source in order to minimise disruption and disturbance to adjacent spaces;
- we analysed the results of the survey and inspection visit.
- we advised on remedial treatments and provision of sound absorbent finishes required to achieve acoustic performance targets for reverberation times
Result
Our recommendations for ceiling and wall panel sound absorbent treatment were adopted by the university resulting in better speaking and listening conditions both within the rooms for in person use, and for recording quality of speech via the lecture capture system for remote use. This helps to improve inclusion and access to listening, for all students but particularly those with English as an Additional Language, and Aurally diverse listeners.
