Better Acoustics in Environments for Learning

When designing Environments for Learning, architects such as RBSD try to create an atmosphere that promotes overall learning by concentrating on such key conditions as acoustics that facilitate concentration in the classroom and laboratory.

Traditional classrooms feature hard-surfaced finishes that create an echo-chamber quality, a matter worsened by air-quality standards. Despite their good intentions, indoor air-quality standards cause schools to use noisy heating and cooling equipment, adding to the problem of noise created by outside vehicular traffic.

Innovative ideas implemented by insightful designers and planners include ceilings that slope from front to back so sound will carry rather than echo. Trapezoid room footprints reduce the tendency of sound to reverberate more than in regular rectangle rooms. Double layered sound-absorbing ceiling tiles, insulated glass windows, and thicker walls absorb undesired sound.

Excessive noise created by heating and air-conditioning systems such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) can be quieted by modifications like larger walls, additional carpeting and sound-absorbing panels.

By utilizing different drywall thicknesses on either side of a wall, the two widths absorb different sound frequencies and together prevent both low- and high-pitched sounds from getting through. Staggering doors in a hallway keeps classroom entrances out of direct noise range from each other, and installing carpeting can reduce foot noise.

Regardless of learning ability, students tend to perform worse in noisy classrooms, which can be distracting and drown out lectures Teachers also are affected by the din in these facilities, continuously struggling to teach above the racket and missing an average of two days per year due to vocal fatigue (National Center for Education).

The American National Standards Institute has issued acoustical standards to limit background noise and reverberation in schools, as have the states of New York and Washington. The standards are supported by previous funding passed by states and school districts.