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Education
Projects
Educational spaces must deliver exceptional acoustical design to support
Your students deserve to learn/grow/be educated in classrooms with optimized speech intelligibility, free from excess building systems noise and other distractions.
OUR CLIENTS
University of Washington Hans Rosling Center for Population Health
Integrated project delivery with acoustical design as throughline for cost-efficient high-performance design and construction.
The 2021 Design-Build Institute of America Project of the Year was an integrated project delivery that had our team engaged from early planning through construction. We engineered unique mechanical system solutions alongside the mechanical engineer and mechanical contractor and provided continuous support to the architect and contractor through every stage of design and construction. Integrated acoustical design and performance with the aesthetic vision of the space and the large collaborative layout. Collaborated on effective solutions for lecture spaces, podcast ready rooms, open-plan work areas, private offices, and confidential meetings rooms.
- Architectural Acoustic Design
- Building Systems Noise & Vibration Control
- Acoustical Testing & Commissioning
Project Team :
Architect: Miller Hull Partnership LLP
Contractor: Lease Crutcher Lewis
Kennewick High School
Complete transformation of legacy high school campus in Tri-Cities included optimization of historic auditorium.
A complete transformation of this legacy Kennewick School District high school campus in the Tri-Cities includes a new 2-story, 292,000 sq.ft. building built on-campus and renovation of a historic auditorium, tying all programs together into a single high school. Mechanical systems were optimized to meet acoustic performance goals for noise and vibration control in both existing and new spaces. Evaluated historic performing arts facility and provided cost-efficient options to update the acoustic performance while retaining the charm and feel of the space. Coordinated acoustical design into large open-plan style learning and collaborative environment.
- Architectural Acoustic Design
- Building Systems Noise & Vibration Control
- Acoustical Testing & Commissioning
Project Team :
Architect: MMEC Architecture & Interiors / DLR Group
Contractor: Fowler Construction
Kopachuck Middle School
Optimizing acoustical performance in learning spaces to support deeper learning for up to 500 students.
Renovation of one of the oldest middle schools in the Peninsula School District. This modernization and addition included an assessment of the existing conditions to understand the opportunities for improvement and challenges, including in-person meetings with the music staff to ensure the rehearesal and performance spaces met their needs with flexible solutions. This project required close collaboration and coordination with the project team to better define existing conditions with respect to modernization areas, and to optimize the design for both the existing and new additions while being mindful of the state-funded budget. Our team provided right-sized solutions for sound isolation and reverberant sound control, which are of paramount importance in supporting effective lessons for teachers and deep learning for students. Equipment-specific mechanical systems noise and vibration control measures were provided based on replacement of equipment and optimization of noise control measures that address the multilayered needs of a modernization and additions project to achieve background noise levels that are conducive for learning indoors. For outdoor noise, environmental noise from the site was predicted to the nearest adjoining properties and analyzed in accordance with county requirements.
- Architectural Acoustic Design
- Building Systems Noise & Vibration Control
Project Team :
Architect: TCF Architecture
Contractor: Schwiesow Construction
West Seattle Elementary School
Optimizing acoustical performance in historical renovation of elementary school to support deeper learning for up to 500 students.
To better support students’ academic success, this involves providing learning spaces that function to provide clear speech communication, a controlled noise and vibration environment, which in turn should result in reduced distraction and deeper learning. We understand that positive behavior (engagement) and effective lessons (quality of teaching) are products of functional spaces with optimized acoustics.
There were multilayered constructability needs of the new addition, as well as existing renovation and repair conditions of this historic landmark building that needed to be considered. Primary design goals included preserving the distinctive visible characteristics of the building form where needed, meet code, and optimize the functionality of the new spaces by incorporating construction assemblies and modern, complimentary finish materials that maintain the distinctive historic landmark features.
Generally, young elementary students produce sound energy at higher frequencies (typically above 1,000 Hz). Keeping the occupants in mind, as well as other important factors such as existing/proposed structures, room finishes, layouts, cubic room volume, adjacencies, and programming and preservation, acoustical recommendations were provided to optimize sound isolation, reverberant sound control (to prevent unwanted build-up of sound reflections), and mechanical system noise and vibration mitigation.
Adding new spaces, and renovating/repairing existing spaces can inspire positive transformation. To nurture spatial competencies for students and teachers, functional spaces are needed. We provide evidence-based recommendations that consider acoustics, design risks and constructability.
- Architectural Acoustic Design
- Building Systems Noise & Vibration Control
Project Team :
Architect: Miller Hayashi Architects
Contractor: Jody Miller Construction
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