Shaw Modular Solutions Cafeteria Acoustics

Don StrahleDon joined Acoustical Solutions when the business began in 1997. He works with contractors and architects on projects throughout the United States and internationally, including large high-profile projects at the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian. Don is also an avid NASCAR fan and self-proclaimed foodie. 1-800-782-5742 Ext. 0114

Shaw Modular Solutions using AlphaPerf® panels for an industrial look to reduce room noise in school cafeteria.

Shaw Modular Solutions using AlphaPerf® panels for an industrial look to reduce room noise in a manufacturing facility's cafeteria.

The Issue

Cafeteria noise and echo was quite unwelcome at Shaw Modular Solutions, especially during that important time in the middle of the day when a bit of relaxation is much needed. By treating a Louisiana manufacturing facility’s cafeteria with sound deadening acoustic panels, Acoustical Solutions was able to ease more than a few lunchtime woes.

Metal acoustic panels treat the echo in a manufacturing company's cafeteria.

The Challenge

Shaw Modular Solutions, a manufacturing facility at the Port of Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana, designed and built the cafeteria to match the rest of their new facility. It had a polished, industrial look with hard lines and even bare walls. There was a lot of concrete and steel, which are both naturally reflective. So, out of the gate there were several acoustical issues. The Acoustical Solutions team determined that the cafeteria’s main problems were:

Slapback echo caused by reflective surfaces and characterized by a significant amount of high frequency noise.
Flutter echo, which occurs when two parallel surfaces reflect sound between one another and cause a listener to hear the reflections between them as distinct echoes.
A reverberation time of 3.5 to 4 seconds (similar to a small gymnasium).

The Solution

One of the main objectives for this project, aside from solving the obvious acoustical problems, was to maintain the look and feel of the industrial design - and there is no better product for this than an AlphaPerf® Metal Acoustic Panel. These industrial, yet polished-looking acoustic panels are made up of a perforated metal skin encapsulating an acoustical fiberglass sound absorber. The texture of the metal facing allows some sound energy to be deflected and diffused, while it absorbs the rest. The encapsulated fiberglass transforms the absorbed portion of noise from sound energy to heat energy.

The Result

With AlphaPerf® Metal Acoustic Panels, Shaw Modular Solutions ended up with an extremely effective sound-control solution that added to the intended industrial design and style of the cafeteria. The reverberation time was cut in half from 1.5 – 2 seconds; which is the point at which hearing and speech clarity are considered acceptable.

To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.

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