December_1970 — Page 17

Acoustics are a problem

Landscaped offices

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by Brian F. Day

Noise is by far the most intractable problem in landscaped offices, says Brian F. Day, MSc, AlnstP. The usual equations which apply to the behaviour of sound in rooms are no longer valid in the land- scaped office. Mr. Day has been a member of the acoustics group at the University of Salford since 1964. His research work, centred on the development of acoustic scale-model techniques, has led to his current studies of landscaped offices.

LANDSCAPED offices clearly have a number of advantages: organisational flexibility, pleasant environment, im- proved communication, and economic use of available space. Apart from the social benefit, these factors must lead to increased working efficiency.

However, while the designer of such offices is no longer burdened

with finding a 'once-for-all' solution to the problem of work layout, he has instead to overcome a number of en- vironmental design problems which arise first from the unusual aspect ratio (large plan area and low ceiling height), second from the high popula- tion density and finally from the mix- ed activity in these offices.

The major factors involved are lighting, heating and ventilating, and acoustic design.

Although unusual requirements are presented for lighting and ventilation, the design of these services can be carried through with the aid of the usual techniques. Unfortunately this is not true of the acoustic design. The usual equations describing the be- haviour of sound in rooms are no long- er valid in the landscaped office, and it is possible that the sound sources and recipient responses may also need to be looked at in a different way from that used for normal offices.

Before we can proceed to discuss the solution, we must establish the

Office of Building Design Partnership at Preston, UK. Note low ceiling height compared with width.

Far East BUILDER, December 1970

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