By Charles Carrender
In architectural design, the most successful projects are those that prioritize and optimize the occupant experience. How people engage and interact with a space is a direct result of how well the space is designed to perform in relation to its intended use.
The way sound behaves (or, in some cases, does not behave) inside a commercial space makes it one of the most impactful elements on people within that space. Buildings are full of acoustically reflective materials—concrete, glass, metal, and wood—all of which can cause unwanted sound to reverberate throughout the interior, increasing stress levels, decreasing concentration, and otherwise negatively impacting the building’s occupants. Conversely, optimizing acoustics enhances sound clarity and improves speech intelligibility, which has been shown to support learning, promote productivity, and contribute to immersive experiences.
As more architects and interior designers make acoustic attenuation a regular part of the building design process, sound absorption tends to get all the focus. However, absorption is not always the goal. Performance spaces, lecture halls, recording studios, and other commercial applications often require more sophisticated acoustic management that includes diffusion and reflection for optimum sound quality.
Here, in addition to absorption, explore the dynamics of reflection and diffusion, where and why they are needed, and what types of wall and ceiling solutions achieve them while offering visual options that elevate the look of a space as much as they enhance its sound quality.
