MEAS Secretary Sarah Huskie and Chairman Paul Schwarz provided a technical presentation to the Chartered Institute of Building (www.ciob.org.uk) in September. 50 or so members of the Institute were present, a very healthy turnout.
A summary of the presentation is as follows:
Architectural Acoustics
The control of noise and quality of sound within a building plays a significant part in the perception of quality to the end user, the end-client client and their visitors.
Architectural Acoustic Engineering covers a wide variety of design elements which are integral to the built environment we work, visit and live in every day. Considering privacy between two separate spaces in the work place and within living spaces, there are many construction methods, technologies and solutions which will collectively achieve a distinct level of comfort and confidentiality.
Individual building components also play a significant part in the control of wanted and unwanted sounds, and how they behave in enclosed spaces. Structural, internal finishes, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems can all either significantly enhance the performance of a building by providing useful background noise to assist with privacy in large open-plan spaces, or hinder it’s performance by conducting unwanted sounds and speech into more sensitive areas.
Any building or development which aspires to achieve international recognition should be designed to meet appropriate international design standards, from residential apartments to commercial office spaces, to international brand hotels and public buildings. In this seminar, MEAS explained the key issues and capabilities required of engineers, designers and contractors working in the built environment to meet these expectations.
The Chartered Institute of Building
The Chartered Institute of Building is at the heart of a management career in construction.We are the world's largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. We have a Royal Charter to promote the science and practice of building and construction for the benefit of society, and we’ve been doing that since 1834. Our members work worldwide in the development, conservation and improvement of the built environment. We accredit university degrees, educational courses and training. Our professional and vocational qualifications are a mark of the highest levels of competence and professionalism, providing assurance to clients and other professionals procuring built assets.