Page 8 - School Planning & Management, April 2017

NEWS & VIEWS
Hot Tips
This Month
Acoustics
FLOORING’S AFFECT
ON NOISE LEVELS
WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING IN-CLASS
student learning and teacher instruction, mul- tiple factors must be considered. One important factor that should not be overlooked is acoustics.
A number of studies show there is a direct correlation between acoustics and improved student performance. In fact, research shows products with high Noise Reduction Coeffi- cients (NRC) and Impact Insulation Classifica- tions (IIC) promote better voice recognition. Inappropriate levels of background noise and reverberations can hinder reading ability, affect behavior and attention, and affect concentration and academic performance.
Laboratories typically use two tests to measure the acoustic properties of interior surfaces and finishes: airborne noise reduction and structure-borne noise reduction.
The airborne noise reduction test, ASTM C423-02a, measures a surface’s ability to absorb airborne sounds, which contribute to ambient (background) noise. These sounds can range from a human voice to mechanical sys- tems. A floor covering’s measure of effective- ness in absorbing airborne sound is expressed as a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC). The greater the NRC, the better that product is at absorbing airborne sounds.
The structure-borne noise reduction test most used for flooring is ASTM E492-09. This test mea- sures the material’s ability to reduce impact sound transmission into the space below. Footsteps and objects dropping on the floor are examples of impact noises. Flooring products undergoing this test are expressed as a whole number, the Impact Insulation Class (IIC). The higher the rating the greater the sound insulation.
Soft floor covering materials are excellent so- lutions for reducing both airborne and structure- borne noise. They have the ability to absorb more sound and transmit less sound than other types of surfaces. This contributes to a quieter and more conducive learning environment.
>>Bob Bethel is the director of Business Devel- opment, Education with J+J Flooring Group.
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including human medicine, physiol-
ogy, genetics, microbiology and public health, using Project Lead the Way’s Biomedical Sciences curriculum and the Rutgers School of Health Professions. The biomedical bab will include a lab/ instructional area and a student work area to accommodate 25 students per class.
Newly Dedicated High School Named in Honor
of Retired Superintendent
Ray Braswell High School, Denton (Texas) ISD’s first high school outside of the Denton city limits, held a dedica- tion ceremony on March 8. The high school fills a void created by the rapid growth in the district during the last
decade. VLK Architects designed the school. The building is broken down into small communities or houses, and each contains its own collaborative learn-
ing areas, glass huddle rooms, write- able wall surfaces and digital displays. Common areas contain flexible learning spaces with direct access to “educational courtyards” which are designed with collaboration at their core. In addition
to several other contemporary design features, Braswell High School has a ro- bust wireless network driving students and teachers to have information at
their fingertips. The school is named in honor of Dr. Ray Braswell, who served the district for 33 years, 14 of those as superintendent.
Lake Bluff Middle School Completes Major Renovation, Addition
The major school renovation and addition for Lake Bluff Middle School resulted in a dramatic transformation of a mid-century modern school building in Chicago’s north suburbs and is the culmination of a two-year process. The project was designed by Wight & Company, who also served as the architectural firm. In 2014, Lake Bluff School District 65 decided to reimagine the campus, with the key objectives of expanding
the campus, which serves 325 students, and creating a modern facility to effectively support current teaching methods, as well as adapt to meet future needs. The design solution involved a number of major improvements, including expanding the library that serves as the heart of the building and connects to a new STEM laboratory, as well as to the student dining area; a reconfigured main entrance that offers enhanced secu- rity and is fully ADA-accessible; five new classrooms and three fine arts rooms; three renovated science laboratories and the conversion of lower-level classroom space into officespaceforadministratorswhohadpreviouslyworkedoff-site. SPM
8 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / APRIL 2017 WEBSPM.COM