In the heart of Constantine, Algeria, a quiet revolution is taking place, not in the streets, but within the walls of the El Khalifa Cultural Centre. A team of researchers, led by Dalal Farid from the University of Oum El Bouaghi’s LAGED Laboratory, is redefining the way we think about acoustic quality in public spaces, with potential implications for the energy sector and beyond.
The story begins with a problem: the cultural centre’s conference room, once a hub of oral exchange and learning, had become what Farid describes as “overly ‘deaf'”. The room had undergone an acoustic rehabilitation that, while reducing reverberation time, had also stifled sound diffusion, diminishing the room’s acoustic quality. “It was a classic case of over-correction,” Farid explains. “We needed to find a balance, a way to improve the room’s acoustics without sacrificing its functionality.”
The solution? A network of six plywood reflectors, each 12 mm thick, strategically placed on the ceiling. Farid and her team incorporated the acoustic characteristics of these reflectors into the Olive Tree Lab Suite software, a tool used to evaluate the impact on the room’s acoustic performance. The results were striking. The reverberation time (TR60), clarity (C80), strength (G), definition (D50), and speech transmission index (STI) all improved significantly, aligning perfectly with recommended values.
So, what does this mean for the future of acoustic design? Farid believes that this research could pave the way for more innovative solutions in public spaces. “We’re not just talking about conference rooms,” she says. “Think about auditoriums, theaters, even large open-plan offices. The principles we’ve applied here could be adapted and scaled to improve acoustic quality in a wide range of settings.”
The implications for the energy sector are also noteworthy. As buildings become more energy-efficient, the need for effective acoustic solutions becomes increasingly important. Traditional acoustic treatments can often be energy-intensive, but Farid’s research suggests that simple, cost-effective solutions like plywood reflectors could be a viable alternative.
Published in the journal Prostor (which translates to “Space” in English), this research is a testament to the power of innovative thinking in solving real-world problems. As Farid puts it, “We’re not just improving the acoustics of a room. We’re enhancing the way people communicate, learn, and interact. And that’s something that has the potential to resonate far beyond the walls of the El Khalifa Cultural Centre.”