Acoustics in school building moves toward the head of the class
From cacophony in the schoolyard and tense quiet during finals to the social jungle of the cafeteria and the read-out-loud of Roald Dahl: Maybe no acoustic environment is expected to perform in such a variety of ways as the contemporary school.
Facing a stand of fir trees in Kirkland, Washington, is the three-year-old Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, the vision of contemporary learning in the pine-green and tech-forward northwest. Mahlum Architects of Seattle garnered several awards with the two-story building that features classrooms clustered around open learning areas — a layout that is an outgrowth of the school’s educational philosophy. The local district chose daylighting and natural ventilation for Ben Franklin well before green mandates for schools and other state-funded buildings passed in 2005. These measures have helped the building earn high marks with staff for air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting. But Ben Franklin isn’t perfect.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.