Computational and empirical assessment of the acoustic performance of repurposed university spaces

Abstract

Educational institutes located in historical buildings must frequently repurpose available spatial resources toward accommodation of new and emerging functional needs. This may lead, among other things, to problems regarding the acoustic performance of the repurposed rooms. Specifically, a central function of spaces in academic settings is information exchange, which requires suitable acoustic conditions. In this context, the present paper entails the acoustic study and evaluation of selected rooms in a university building, which have been repurposed to serve as multi-functional learning and working environments. To this end, both computational means and diagnostic methods were employed. The results of the study suggest that the room acoustics conditions in the repurposed rooms deviate in part from those recommended in pertinent standards.