Acoustics is a vital but often overlooked part of architecture. It is frequently misunderstood or not even offered in most architectural schools, so many architects do not receive the practical training necessary to maximize their designs. With this education gap in mind, Acoustic Essentials for Architects is the primer architects need to fill the void. Written by an industry veteran with 45 years of hands-on experience in a low-tech, conversational style, it will help architects better understand and visualize the relationship between the physical shapes, textures, and dimensions of their work and how those design decisions impact the qualitative behavior of sound. This peer-reviewed book details the essential terminology and concepts of architectural acoustics, including why it’ s so important to understand the incredible dimensional range of wavelengths between the lowest and highest audible sounds, the feasibility aspects of applied acoustics, and the trade-offs to blending architecture, acoustics, and pragmatism. It also explains the importance of interior seating symmetry for medium and large rooms and optimizing for speech intelligibility. With the information provided, architects can improve their designs by shifting from unintentional acoustical results to those that achieve a planned outcome. Key Features : Details exactly what sound is and why it is so hard to manage or control within a built environment Interprets how and why various audible frequencies behave differently when interacting with various materials, structures, shapes, and finishes Provides a convenient acoustical lexicon Explains the three acoustical tools available to both architects and acousticians and how they can benefit or hinder the work of each craft Describes how acoustical challenges differ between large and small rooms and how room geometry affects sound design Includes a detailed discussion on reverberation, echo, and resonance, including how they differ, which is better, and how much of each is optimal Useful for a variety of other industries and individuals, such as general contractors, interior designers, music schools, audio professionals, and the general public— anyone involved with or impacted by the interior design of a built environment WAV offers the T60 Slope Ratio Thesis (New Reverberation Design Goals for Modern Architectural Acoustic Environments), Parametric Acoustics, Second Edition (The Case for the Parametric Method of Acoustic Treatment), and Acoustic Shadowing (Unpacking Wave Numbers and Introducing the Wave Ratio Thesis)— available from the Web Added Value Download Resource Center at jrosspub.com