ISSP – Saigon Pearl International School: Acoustic Design for a Comfortable Canteen Experience

International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) was an international school located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, offering education to children aged 18 months to 11 years. Established in 2010, ISSP provided a curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the American Common Core standards. The school was accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Location: 92 Nguyen Huu Canh Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Official website: www.issp.edu.vn

Project Overview

• Scope of work: Interior design and construction.

• Investor: ISSP.

• Status: Completed in 2020.

• Chief Architect: Econs.

Acoustic Design in ISSP Canteen: Key Solutions for Noise Control

1. Noise Control Solutions

One of the primary goals of acoustic design in a school canteen is to control noise levels. Canteens are typically high-traffic areas with many people talking, moving, and eating. The acoustic design includes measures to absorb and reduce the noise to avoid an overly loud, chaotic environment. This is done by incorporating sound-absorbing materials into the walls, ceiling, and floors.

2. Soundproofing for a Focused Learning Environment

In a busy space like the canteen, soundproofing is essential to prevent sound from traveling to other areas of the school. This helps maintain a quiet and focused atmosphere in classrooms and other spaces while ensuring that the canteen remains a lively but not disruptive area.

3. Material Selection for Optimal Acoustic Performance

Acoustic panels, ceiling tiles, and wall coverings made from sound-absorbing materials such as foam, fabric, and acoustic boards are used to mitigate reverberation. Soft materials like carpets and curtains may also be used to absorb sound. These materials help prevent sound from bouncing off hard surfaces, which could make the space feel louder than intended.

4. Ceiling and Wall Treatments

Suspended acoustic ceiling tiles are often used in school canteens to reduce noise levels. These tiles are designed to absorb sound and minimize echoes, which is especially important in a space where a large number of students may be talking and eating at the same time. Additionally, wall panels or acoustic treatments can be applied to further control sound reflections and keep the space comfortable.

Canteen with sound absorbing ceiling design

Designing for Acoustic Comfort and a Pleasant Dining Experience

The design of the canteen also considers the optimal placement of seating arrangements to reduce noise concentration in certain areas. A well-organized layout, with careful placement of sound-absorbing materials, ensures that the space remains acoustically comfortable for everyone, whether they are sitting, talking, or eating.

The main goal of the acoustic design is to ensure that students can enjoy their meal in a calm and pleasant environment. Too much noise can be stressful and make social interaction difficult. With the proper acoustic design, the canteen becomes an enjoyable place for students to interact and take a break from their studies.

Integration with the Overall Interior Design

The acoustic design of the canteen needs to align with the overall interior design of the school. For example, the materials chosen for soundproofing should also complement the aesthetics of the space. This integration helps ensure that the canteen is visually appealing while also being acoustically comfortable.

Common Acoustic Solutions Applied in ISSP Canteen

When designing spaces such as school canteens, especially in environments with high noise levels and large crowds like ISSP – Saigon Pearl International School, sound-absorbing solutions are essential to creating an acoustically comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. These solutions focus on minimizing sound reflections, reducing echo, and controlling noise levels within the space. Below are common sound-absorbing solutions that can be used in acoustic design for such areas:

1. Acoustic Ceiling Panels

• Function: Ceiling panels made from sound-absorbing materials like foam, fiberglass, or mineral fiber are an effective way to control reverberation and reduce noise in large spaces such as a school canteen.

• Design: These panels can be suspended in a grid system or integrated into the ceiling structure, providing both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Many acoustic panels come in a variety of colors and textures, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the overall design of the space.

• Benefit: By absorbing sound waves, these panels help reduce the level of noise within the canteen, making it more comfortable for students and staff.

2. Acoustic Wall Panels

• Function: Acoustic wall panels are placed on vertical surfaces to absorb sound and prevent echoes. They are particularly effective in spaces with a lot of hard surfaces like walls and windows, which tend to reflect sound.

• Materials: Panels can be made from fabric-wrapped fiberglass, foam, or fabric-covered acoustic core boards. They can also be customized with different finishes to fit the design of the space.

• Benefit: By reducing sound reflections from the walls, these panels prevent the room from becoming too noisy, thus improving the overall sound quality in the canteen.

3. Acoustic Baffles or Clouds

• Function: Acoustic baffles or clouds are suspended panels placed horizontally or vertically in the air, typically in the ceiling area. These are particularly effective in large, open spaces like cafeterias.

• Design: Baffles are often made from sound-absorbing materials such as foam, fiberglass, or fabric-wrapped panels and can be hung from the ceiling at varying heights.

• Benefit: Baffles help to break up sound waves and absorb noise, especially in areas with high ceilings. They contribute to a reduction in reverberation and provide a more comfortable acoustic environment.

4. Acoustic Flooring

• Function: Hard flooring materials such as tile, concrete, or wood can amplify sound in a room. Acoustic flooring solutions involve using materials that absorb sound and reduce footstep noise, such as carpet, rubber, or cork.

• Design: In a school canteen, acoustic flooring may consist of rubber or cork tiles, or carpets with sound-absorbing backing to reduce impact noise and help control reverberation.

• Benefit: These flooring materials help to reduce the overall noise level and prevent the space from sounding too “hard” or echoey.

5. Sound Absorbing Furnishings

• Function: Furniture and interior elements can be designed to contribute to noise control. For example, using upholstered furniture, sound-absorbing seating arrangements, or partitions with acoustic properties can further reduce noise.

• Materials: Upholstered chairs, cushions, and booths made from soft materials like foam or fabric are ideal for absorbing sound. Additionally, movable partitions made from acoustic materials can be used to create zones within the canteen, helping to reduce noise buildup in crowded areas.

• Benefit: Sound-absorbing furniture can be strategically placed to act as barriers that trap sound, helping to further reduce the overall noise level.

6. Acoustic Curtains and Blinds

• Function: Acoustic curtains or blinds can be used to cover windows or divide large spaces. They are made from thick, heavy fabric that helps absorb sound.

• Design: These curtains can be drawn or adjusted depending on the time of day or the crowd in the canteen. They not only offer an acoustic benefit but also add a decorative element to the room.

• Benefit: These curtains help to control sound coming from outside, as well as reduce internal reflections and reverberation from hard surfaces like glass windows.

7. Soundproofing Doors

• Function: Doors are often overlooked in acoustic design, but they can be a source of sound transmission between rooms. Soundproof doors, which are made with sound-dampening materials, can significantly reduce the amount of noise entering or leaving the canteen area.

• Design: Doors with solid cores or additional acoustic insulation layers are particularly effective at reducing noise transfer.

• Benefit: Soundproof doors prevent noise from entering the canteen from hallways or kitchens, thus maintaining a quiet and peaceful environment.

8. Acoustic Partitions

• Function: Movable or fixed partitions can help divide large open areas like canteens into smaller, more acoustically manageable spaces. These partitions can be made from sound-absorbing materials to further reduce noise.

• Design: The partitions can be placed between seating areas, creating distinct zones where the noise level is more controlled. These could be soft fabric partitions or solid panel walls, depending on the design and acoustics.

• Benefit: By dividing the space, partitions create quieter zones where students can converse and dine without excessive noise from other areas.

9. Strategic Design of Space Layout

• Function: The layout of the canteen plays a critical role in sound distribution. By placing certain high-noise areas away from quieter zones and ensuring that there are no large reflective surfaces, the overall acoustics can be improved.

• Design: The arrangement of furniture, serving counters, and seating should be designed to avoid sound concentrating in one area, which could lead to excessive noise. Incorporating various shapes, such as curves in the layout, can also help break up sound paths.

• Benefit: A well-planned layout reduces noise hotspots and ensures that students can enjoy the space without overwhelming sound.

Conclusion

Sound-absorbing solutions for the canteen at ISSP – Saigon Pearl International School would include a combination of materials, furniture, and design techniques aimed at reducing noise and improving the overall acoustic experience. The focus would be on using effective soundproofing and noise control measures such as acoustic ceiling panels, wall treatments, flooring solutions, and strategic space layout. By implementing these solutions, the canteen can become a more comfortable and inviting space where students can enjoy meals and socialize without excessive noise.

View more projects here: www.econs.edu.vn/projects

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When designing spaces such as school canteens, especially in environments with high noise levels and large crowds like ISSP – Saigon Pearl International School, sound-absorbing solutions are essential to creating an acoustically comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. These solutions focus on minimizing sound reflections, reducing echo, and controlling noise levels within the space. Below are common sound-absorbing solutions that can be used in acoustic design for such areas:

1. Acoustic Ceiling Panels

• Function: Ceiling panels made from sound-absorbing materials like foam, fiberglass, or mineral fiber are an effective way to control reverberation and reduce noise in large spaces such as a school canteen.

• Design: These panels can be suspended in a grid system or integrated into the ceiling structure, providing both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Many acoustic panels come in a variety of colors and textures, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the overall design of the space.

• Benefit: By absorbing sound waves, these panels help reduce the level of noise within the canteen, making it more comfortable for students and staff.

2. Acoustic Wall Panels

• Function: Acoustic wall panels are placed on vertical surfaces to absorb sound and prevent echoes. They are particularly effective in spaces with a lot of hard surfaces like walls and windows, which tend to reflect sound.

• Materials: Panels can be made from fabric-wrapped fiberglass, foam, or fabric-covered acoustic core boards. They can also be customized with different finishes to fit the design of the space.

• Benefit: By reducing sound reflections from the walls, these panels prevent the room from becoming too noisy, thus improving the overall sound quality in the canteen.

3. Acoustic Baffles or Clouds

• Function: Acoustic baffles or clouds are suspended panels placed horizontally or vertically in the air, typically in the ceiling area. These are particularly effective in large, open spaces like cafeterias.

• Design: Baffles are often made from sound-absorbing materials such as foam, fiberglass, or fabric-wrapped panels and can be hung from the ceiling at varying heights.

• Benefit: Baffles help to break up sound waves and absorb noise, especially in areas with high ceilings. They contribute to a reduction in reverberation and provide a more comfortable acoustic environment.

4. Acoustic Flooring

• Function: Hard flooring materials such as tile, concrete, or wood can amplify sound in a room. Acoustic flooring solutions involve using materials that absorb sound and reduce footstep noise, such as carpet, rubber, or cork.

• Design: In a school canteen, acoustic flooring may consist of rubber or cork tiles, or carpets with sound-absorbing backing to reduce impact noise and help control reverberation.

• Benefit: These flooring materials help to reduce the overall noise level and prevent the space from sounding too “hard” or echoey.

5. Sound Absorbing Furnishings

• Function: Furniture and interior elements can be designed to contribute to noise control. For example, using upholstered furniture, sound-absorbing seating arrangements, or partitions with acoustic properties can further reduce noise.

• Materials: Upholstered chairs, cushions, and booths made from soft materials like foam or fabric are ideal for absorbing sound. Additionally, movable partitions made from acoustic materials can be used to create zones within the canteen, helping to reduce noise buildup in crowded areas.

• Benefit: Sound-absorbing furniture can be strategically placed to act as barriers that trap sound, helping to further reduce the overall noise level.

6. Acoustic Curtains and Blinds

• Function: Acoustic curtains or blinds can be used to cover windows or divide large spaces. They are made from thick, heavy fabric that helps absorb sound.

• Design: These curtains can be drawn or adjusted depending on the time of day or the crowd in the canteen. They not only offer an acoustic benefit but also add a decorative element to the room.

• Benefit: These curtains help to control sound coming from outside, as well as reduce internal reflections and reverberation from hard surfaces like glass windows.

7. Soundproofing Doors

• Function: Doors are often overlooked in acoustic design, but they can be a source of sound transmission between rooms. Soundproof doors, which are made with sound-dampening materials, can significantly reduce the amount of noise entering or leaving the canteen area.

• Design: Doors with solid cores or additional acoustic insulation layers are particularly effective at reducing noise transfer.

• Benefit: Soundproof doors prevent noise from entering the canteen from hallways or kitchens, thus maintaining a quiet and peaceful environment.

8. Acoustic Partitions

• Function: Movable or fixed partitions can help divide large open areas like canteens into smaller, more acoustically manageable spaces. These partitions can be made from sound-absorbing materials to further reduce noise.

• Design: The partitions can be placed between seating areas, creating distinct zones where the noise level is more controlled. These could be soft fabric partitions or solid panel walls, depending on the design and acoustics.

• Benefit: By dividing the space, partitions create quieter zones where students can converse and dine without excessive noise from other areas.

9. Strategic Design of Space Layout

• Function: The layout of the canteen plays a critical role in sound distribution. By placing certain high-noise areas away from quieter zones and ensuring that there are no large reflective surfaces, the overall acoustics can be improved.

• Design: The arrangement of furniture, serving counters, and seating should be designed to avoid sound concentrating in one area, which could lead to excessive noise. Incorporating various shapes, such as curves in the layout, can also help break up sound paths.

• Benefit: A well-planned layout reduces noise hotspots and ensures that students can enjoy the space without overwhelming sound.

Conclusion:

Sound-absorbing solutions for the canteen at ISSP – Saigon Pearl International School would include a combination of materials, furniture, and design techniques aimed at reducing noise and improving the overall acoustic experience. The focus would be on using effective soundproofing and noise control measures such as acoustic ceiling panels, wall treatments, flooring solutions, and strategic space layout. By implementing these solutions, the canteen can become a more comfortable and inviting space where students can enjoy meals and socialize without excessive noise.

View more projects here: www.econs.edu.vn/projects