Jessica Snyder, Madison Schultz, Zach Maggia- The Importance of the “Small Things”

 Three Industry Professionals came to talk with us. They were an acoustical consultant, a mechanical engineer, and an interior designer. The acoustical consultant walked us through all the everyday sources of unwanted sound that can wreck a space if you don’t plan for them. I loved their teaching style because they were interacting with the audience a lot. He asked the trick question of what creates unwanted noise: people talking or walking, transit noise from nearby roads, planes, or trains, plumbing lines rushing water through pipes, HVAC systems humming or whooshing air, light fixtures buzzing or vibrating, wind whistling around facades or through gaps, animals outside (especially in rural projects), and even pre-recorded sounds or announcements in public spaces. The answer was all of these. I think it will always stick with me and make me think since he taught it in this way. The big message was that acoustics isn’t something you can plan for afterwards. If you do it will waste a lot of time and money that could have been prevented previously. You have to design for quiet (or controlled sound) from the very beginning, especially in places meant for focus, rest, or healing.

The Mechanical Engineer couldn’t stress enough how the location and type of air vents, ducts, and returns can make or break a room’s acoustics. She showed photos of projects where standard round ceiling diffusers were much more appealing to look at than a square one in a round space. I have honestly never paid too much attention to the noise of a space or the placement or air vents, but now I’m hyper-aware of it. My dorm study rooms are a perfect bad example: every time someone flushes or runs water in the adjacent bathroom, you hear this loud rush through the pipes. This totally kills my concentration in a space that’s supposed to be quiet for work. I also have been catching myself noticing linear slot vents everywhere—in restaurants, offices, even the airport—and realizing how those spaces feel more modern and designed. I will definitely be using their advice from her on out. I’m super thankful to have had the opportunity to listen to them because I believe it will make me a great designer!