Acústica

DAILY BRUIN ~1928-29

Knudsen Says Good Acoustics Are Important In School Room
U.C.L.A Professor Speaks At Convention Of Public School Business Officials On Building Construction
The acoustics of theschoolroom are more important than the problem of the illumination, and come on a par, at least with the heating and ventilation of the school building. Such is advice given to public schoolofficials by Prof. Vern O. Knudsen of the University, in his article on the subject just published from the proceedings of the National Association of Public School Business Officials. Prof Knudsen wasinvited to speak before the recent convention of the officials held in Denver, and he presented some new and important ideas with reference to construction of school plants. INSTRUCTION IMPORTANT “The chieffunction of a school is instruction, and instruction comes and likely will continue to come, by word-of-mouth and listening,” declares Dr. Knudsen in his article. “I do not believe it is over-ratingthe importance to state that acoustics in school buildings come before illumination, and it is at least on a par with heating and ventilating. “Yet in most instances the illumination, heating andventilation of a school building are planned and executed in a accordance with the best obtainable scientific and engineering knowledge, and matter of acoustics is left to luck or guesswork.” BUILDINGACOUSTICS There is no mystery about providing good acoustics, although the layman has always shrouded the subject with mystery and uncertainty, according to Dr. Knudsen. The acoustic outcome of abuilding can be determined in advance of construction, and with proper design and engineering, the acoustics of any room can satisfy the most exacting requirements. The two outstanding requirements for goodacoustics in school buildings are silence and the absence of excessive reverberation, he points out. All interfering noise, either of outside or inside in origin should be reduced to the utmost....