ACOUSTICAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH NATURAL AIR VENTILATION IN THE LIU INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL ISSUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Abstract

Low speech privacy in shared and private offices in one of the early generation of a “green” building resulted in occupants' dissatisfaction. This problem is experienced in Liu institute with a natural-ventilation system. Such a system requires low air-flow resistance which is achieved by large openings which will result in noise transmission between various spaces within the building. The poor acoustical quality in this building resulted in occupants' noise complaints which were further investigated by way of relevant acoustical measurements. CATT-Acoustic software was utilized to modify the acoustical quality of the building without any disturbance to the occupants. The optimized design of the transfer box above the office door was selected based on CATT-Acoustic predictions. The acoustical measurements were conducted after installation of the transfer box above the office door. The measurements' results agreed with the predictions which led to improved speech privacy to an acceptable level between the office and the corridor in Liu Institute. More work should be done to improve the acoustical quality of natural-ventilated building to conform to ANSI standards. 1 The results of this study strongly support including acoustics in “green” building designs with natural ventilation to avoid users' complaints.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): jgrb

Title: Journal of Green Building

Publisher: College Publishing

ISSN (Print): 1552-6100

ISSN (Electronic): 1943-4618

ISSN Active: 1943-4618

Publication date (Print): Winter 2011

Volume: 6

Issue: 1

Pages: 114-122

Author notes

^aStantec Architecture Ltd., 1100-111 Dunsmuir, Vancouver, BC, V6B 6A3, Canada, zohreh.razavi@ 123456stantec.com , alireza.khaleghi@ 123456stantec.com .

^bAcoustics and Noise Research Group, SOEH-MECH, University of British Columbia, 3rd Floor, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3. murray.hodgson@ 123456ubc.ca .

^cCurrent address: Busby Perkins+Will, 1220 Homer St., Vancouver, BC V6B 2Y5, Max.Richter@ 123456perkinswill.com .

^dSchool of Environmental Health, 3rd floor, 2206 East Mall and Department of Mechanical Engineering, 6250 Applied Science Lane, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada, murray.hodgson@ 123456ubc.ca .

Article

Publisher ID: jgb.6.1.114

DOI: 10.3992/jgb.6.1.114

Copyright statement: ©2011 by College Publishing. All rights reserved.

License:

Volumes 1-7 of JOGB are open access and do not require permission for use, though proper citation should be given. To view the licenses, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Related

Related article ( pdf):

Page count

Pages: 9

Product

Self URI (journal page): http://www.journalofgreenbuilding.com

Categories

Subject: RESEARCH ARTICLES