(From ZHOU Chengguang of CAS Key Laboratory of Noise and Vibration Research) Senior Principal Scientist Dr. Kenneth P. Roy of Armstrong paid a visit to IACAS on Jun.9, 2010 and gave a wonderful lecture entitled "Architecture, Acoustics and human performance".

Dr. Kenneth's lecture consisted of four parts. First, he explained the inextricable link of architecture and acoustics, people have high demands on the acoustic environment in offices, hospitals and educational buildings. Afterwards he introduced the need for acoustic treatment of many kinds of rooms with examples. Then he presented their design team for the actual project, by reducing the room reverberation time, to improve the quality of the indoor acoustic environment. Finally, the relationship between the indoor environmental quality and acoustic characteristics were presented, the sound quality can greatly affect the indoor comfort.

As an architectural community, Armstrong designs and constructs buildings primarily for the purpose of human occupancy. Whether these buildings are intended for commercial offices, healthcare facilities, or schools; there is always a need to address acoustic performance in terms of speech intelligibility, speech privacy, noise, and sound quality as a part of the building Interior Environmental Quality (IEQ) as it affects occupant satisfaction and performance. Architectural factors such as room size, shape, and surfaces not only define the visual but also the acoustical environment within a space. Architectural and mechanical system design will have the most significant effect on occupant acoustical satisfaction, and building IEQ surveys for both standard and 'Green' buildings will be reviewed. Green building standards are now starting to address acoustic performance as a part of the building IEQ since it has been realized that all building must provide a healthy and productive occupant environment, in addition to being both energy efficient and sustainable.