VC-21A-C065 - Acoustic Impact on Work and Study Spaces Caused by Multifunctional Use of an Atrium in an Educational Building

Atria, considered to be multifunctional spaces, are popular in institutional and some commercial buildings as they can contribute to increased natural lighting and ventilation in buildings. However, atria can also introduce challenges with acoustical control and have negative impacts on the acoustic comfort of occupants in the atria or adjacent spaces. An acoustic assessment of an educational building in Toronto was conducted to determine how three event types (musical, non-musical, and regular operation) occurring in the building's atrium impact occupants’ acoustic comfort in adjacent workspaces. For this purpose, sound pressure levels (SPL) in the atrium and the adjacent rooms were measured during the events. A survey was conducted with the occupants of one of the selected workspaces to understand and assess their level of acoustic discomfort caused by the various types of events. The study shows that even though the sound pressure levels were below the threshold specified in international acoustic standards and guidelines, the occupants’ survey results indicated that the acoustic isolation of the spaces around the atrium was not adequate to provide an acoustically comfortable work environment during the course of an event in the atrium.