5.12 Creative Room Acoustics - Atrium and Open Plan Office - Bristol University

Brief
Bristol University were concerned about the spread of noise across the various fl oors through a large atrium. Concerns were also raised with respect to a cafe at the base of the Atrium. The question was asked “what can be heard and what can we do to suppress the spread of noise?” The building was proposed to be naturally ventilated with an exposed concrete soffit; further concerns were raised with respect to the spread of noise across the open plan office floors.

Design Scheme
As in the case of most room acoustic assessments, MACH Acoustics used a detailed computer model of the building. This modelling technique enabled the spread of noise from a source or multiple sources to be mapped across an office floor or through a building section. Determining the spread of noise and the effects of soft treatments along with acoustic screening is therefore possible and highly accurate method of modeling.
A set of results from MACH Acoustics work is shown above. The model on the left 3 shows the spread of noise from the cafe to the ground floor office accommodation. Here it can be seen that high levels of noise spread from the atrium to the office accommodation. Based upon the results of audio simulations and auralisation the  university required improved levels of separation between these spaces. The right hand image shows the result of adding acoustic panels to the soffit of the office spaces, in close proximity to the atrium. To reduce the spread of noise an acoustic screen was also used. This did not compromise the proposed natural ventilation scheme.
Further audio simulations were presented.