Acoustics Noise Vibration staff understand the design requirements for a wide range of educational buildings including: University, Trade Training Centres, Private and Public Primary and High Schools, Pre-School, Special Schools, Kindergarten, and Child Care.

The Acoustics Goal:

The goal of good acoustic design for educational buildings is to create spaces that are easy to teach and learn in. This will enable better imparting of knowledge from teachers to students, and will enable the facility to be rented out for others to use should this be of interest to the owner. Studies have shown that there is direct relationship between good acoustics and learning. Some spaces also require the acoustic design to allow easy communication during question time, so that the teacher and class mates can hear questions being asked by another student.

Key Elements:

Building projects have included:

• master planning for new school sites,
• heritage buildings,
• redevelopment of existing buildings for new uses, and
• new building projects.

Acoustic work has included:

• noise and vibration monitoring to set criteria and investigate existing facilities,
• measurement and testing of room acoustics,
• façade design to control aircraft, road, rail and plant noise intrusion,
• setting suitable internal noise criteria,
• internal acoustic privacy between spaces (via walls, doors, ceilings, floors, ducting),
• computer modelling of lecture theatres and auditoria,
• specialised internal acoustic design for recording studios,
• design of operable walls to allow spaces to be combined for larger events and to achieve a suitable level of acoustic privacy between spaces,
• design of treatments to control reverberation in larger spaces,
• design of floating floors to limit footfall noise from dance and drama rooms/ concourses,
• roof treatments to control rain noise,
• mechanical and electrical plant noise control treatments to meet internal and external noise criteria,
• ESD and green star rating requirements,
• hydraulic services noise control,
• workplace health and safety considerations for workshop facilities,
• safety in design considerations, and
• defects inspections during construction.

Facilities have included:

• auditoria,
• assembly halls,
• sports halls,
• life training centres,
• early learning spaces,
• home economics,
• hospitality,
• music practice rooms,
• video/ television/ music recording studios,
• creative and visual arts spaces,
• dance studios, drama spaces, performing arts complexes,
• art galleries,
• multi-media rooms,
• multi-sensory rooms,
• withdrawal rooms,
• project rooms,
• lecture theatres (150 – 500 seat),
• general learning areas (20 – 80 seat),
• libraries,
• computer labs,
• science laboratories,
• outdoor covered learning areas,
• Dean’s suite,
• board rooms,
• meeting rooms,
• private offices,
• open plan office spaces,
• training rooms,
• seminar spaces,
• innovative learning spaces,
• video conferencing rooms,
• entrance/ foyer/ display/ gathering spaces, and
• workshops.

Projects undertaken by Acoustics Noise Vibration staff have included:

Early Learning Centres

• The Gap Child Care Centre
• McDowell Child Care Centre

Schools

• Cairns Special School – new school master planning, performance hall, music, multi-sensory, hospitality, therapy, withdrawal, GLA’s, workshop
• St Francis Music & Computer Facility
• Highfields SHS – new school master plan, music, science labs, auditorium, workshops
• Gordonvale SHS – Year 7 music facility and GLA’s
• Townsville Grammar – drama, dance and music teaching/ practice spaces and performance space
• Bremer SSC – master plan, road traffic Noise, Performing Arts Complex
• Inala SHS – auditorium extensions, music facilities, library and GLA’s
• Bundamba SSC – GLA’s, Performing Arts facilities, recording studios, music practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, LTC with climbing wall, gym and offices
• St Ursula’s College Dance, Drama and Music facility – rehearsal spaces and tuition rooms
• St. Pauls Science Block
• Redlands Private College Auditorium
• Various ministerial designations for State Schools
• Moreton Bay College – Auditorium, Library, Music facilities, computer labs
• Performing Arts Complex Faith Lutheran College Laidley
• Mercy College Mackay Sports Auditorium
• Inala State School (GLA’s Music rooms)
• Glenala SHS – music practice & hall, workshops
• Inala Special School – GLA’s

University

• The Learning Innovation Building, UQ – open plan office, sound and video studios for recording and editing of training materials)
• Zelman Cowan Seminar Room 207, UQ – advanced seminar space
• GPN4 building, UQ – Received the Australian Institute of Architects President’s Prize – offices, language training facilities, four lecture theatres, seminar rooms, advanced teaching spaces, Comprehensive Learning Centre and ACTS space with state-of-the-art electronic teaching facilities
• GPN3 building, UQ – offices and teaching spaces, IT support facilities, computer labs, lecture rooms, teaching spaces, academic staff offices, student offices, board room, and major chiller and cooling tower installation to support several local buildings
• Medical School Herston, UQ – mechanical plant
• Social Research Centre, UQ – call centre
• QUT Z Block Business Faculty – located 30 meters from the SE Freeway in Brisbane City, large public foyer space, 5 lecture theatres ranging from 150 to 500 seats, offices, teaching rooms, a “world class guest speaker” seminar space overlooking the Brisbane River
• QUT X Block refurbishment – new rehearsal facilities, refurbishment of the existing theatre, new child care centre, refurbishment of existing office floors, and new break-out/function room area
• QUT Art Gallery
• Australian Catholic University – offices, lecture theatres, music practice and recording rooms, nursing, theology, music, the arts, and computer studies
• Academic 1 Building, Griffith University – specialised acoustic design for music practice rooms, video and music recording studios, and control rooms at the Queensland Conservatorium of Contemporary Music
• Academic 2 Building, Griffith University – offices, teaching spaces, and computer laboratories
• Central Qld University, Gladstone Campus – Entry Court, Cafeteria, and Display Court

TAFE & Trade Training Centres

• Yeronga TAFE
• Australian Technical College Townsville – workshops, teaching spaces, library and administration
• TAFE Environmental Noise Review

Private Training Centres

• General Practice Doctors training Facility