Overview of Current Activities in Architectural

Acoustics

Ralph T. Muehleisen Ph.D, P.E., LEED A.P., FASA

Formerly Clinical Associate Prof. of Civil, Architectural

and Enviromental Engineering at Ill. Inst of Tech.

Soon to be Principle Building Engineer at Argonne

National Lab

Overview

• Research and Presentation Activities

• Student Activities

• Education and Outreach

• Standards

Intro to TCAA

Disclaimer

• In trying to mention even sampling of all

that TCAA does there is really no time to

mention names. Sorry

• Also, there no time for any detail on

research activities. Sorry

• So .... Go google the AIP scitation

database for the topic names I’ve

mentioned and you will get all the names

and details you can handle.

Intro to TCAA

Official Scope of TCAA

The purpose of the Technical Committee on

Architectural Acoustics encompasses the following

areas of interest as applied to sound in and around

buildings:

– 1. Room Acoustics

– 2. Finish treatments and Surface Shaping

– 3. Airborne and Structure-Borne Sound Isolation

– 4. Airborne and Structure-Borne Noise Control

– 5. Noise and Vibration Control of Building Systems

– 6. Electroacoustic and Media systems

– 7. Perception and Psychoacoustics

– 8. Modeling, Computational and Verification Methods

Intro to TCAA

Research and Presentations

• TCAA is one of the most active TCs in ASA with

8-10 special sessions each conference

• To get a feel for the research activities and state-

of-the art in design practice, go to some of the

multitude of sessions at this meeting.

– This current meeting really has a good sampling of the

TCAA activities

Intro to TCAA

TCAA Sessions in Seattle

• Monday – Computational Room Acoustic Benchmarks

– Computational Methods for Auralization

– Acoustics of Green Buildings

• Tuesday – Manfred Schroeder Memorial Session

– Knudsen Lectures: Musical Illusions And Classroom Acoustics

• Wednesday – Diffusion in Rooms

– General Room Acoustics

– Issues in Repurposing of Buildings

• Thursday – Soundscapes

– Plumbing Noise Control

• Friday – Acoustics of Health Care Spaces

– Speech Privacy

Intro to TCAA

Other Research Areas

• Open Office Acoustics

– Noise and Privacy in Open Offices

• Architectural Acoustical Product Design

– New Products

– Characterization of Acoustical Products

• Noise and Vibration Control in Buildings

– Sound Transmission Control

– Impact Noise Control

– HVAC Noise and Vibration Control

• Legal Issues in Architectural Acoustics

• Public Policy in Architectural Acoustics

Intro to TCAA

Subcommitees and Liasons

• Speech Privacy

• Classroom Acoustics

• Concert Hall Research Group

• Newman Fund Award

• Acoustics Data Working Group

• Acoustics of Green Buildings

• Student Council

– Becoming a student council rep is a great way to learn

about ASA in more depth and make sure that student

voices are heard by the society

Intro to TCAA

Student Activities

• Student Design Competition – Design of an acoustical venue. Fun for all

with several big awards.

• Student Paper Competitions – Awards for presentations of student research.

• Concert Hall Research Group Summer Institutes – Chance for students to learn directly from the

best concert hall designers in the world

• Venue Tours and Concerts at ASA meeting – Take advantage while you are not burdened

with other meeting activities!!!!

• ASA Jam Session – This ASA wide activity started in TCAA

Intro to TCAA

Standards

TCAA is quite active in standards activities leading,

or contributing heavily to, the development of many

standards used in architectural acoustics including

• ANSI

– S12.60 Parts 1 and 2: Classroom Acoustics

– S12.2: Room Noise Criteria

• ASTM

– C423/E1050: Sound Absorption Coefficients

– E90/E336/E423: Transmission Loss and STC

– E1374/1111/1130 et al: Open Office Acoustics

– E2638: Speech Privacy

Intro to TCAA

Standards Cont.

• Other Major Standards Work – Healthcare Facilities Guidelines

– Acoustics in LEED for Schools and Healthcare

• ASA Members on the Indoor Environmental Quality Technical Advisory Group (IEQ TAG)

– ASHRAE 189 High Performance Buildings Standard

– ASHRAE Performance Measurement Protocols (PMP)

– Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)

– International Building Code (IBC)

– International Green Construction Code (IGCC)

– ASA Members active on the Access Board and working to get Acoustics to be an ADA requirements

Intro to TCAA

Education and Outreach

• Classroom Acoustics Booklets

– I, II and III on Design of regular classrooms,

modular classrooms, and effects of

acoustics on learning

• Multifamily Housing Noise Control

Booklet

– This is being developed

• AIA Architectural Acoustics Seminar

– AIA approved seminar that trained TCAA

members can give for AIA continuing

education credit

• Development of architectural acoustics

education materials for K-12 students

Intro to TCAA

Get Involved

TCAA is VERY open to student involvement in

activities so come to the TCAA Committee meeting

if you want to get involved

• Help chair a session (get a seasoned veteran as

a co-chair)

• Help with educational outreach activities

• Get involved with standards

– You’ll *have* to learn about them sometime if you work

in industry and that sort of info is rarely taught at the

university so you might as well start now

Intro to TCAA