Acoustics AI

Acoustic design in buildings sits at the intersection of physics, code requirements, and human comfort — making it a natural fit for AI analysis. The physics of sound transmission and room acoustics are well-understood but computationally intensive to model manually, especially when the goal is to evaluate multiple design options quickly.

AI for acoustics brings the most value in early design when changes are still cheap. During schematic design, AI can evaluate a floor plan layout for acoustic adjacency issues — flagging when a mechanical room is next to a conference room, when a music classroom shares a wall with a library, or when a tenant demising wall falls short of the lease-required STC rating. These findings during schematic design prevent costly remediation during construction.

The connection to building codes and industry standards is important. ANSI S12.60 sets acoustic requirements for classrooms, FGI Guidelines set requirements for healthcare facilities, and IBC Chapter 12 addresses interior environment requirements. AI checks designs against the applicable standard for each space type, considering both airborne sound transmission and structure-borne noise from mechanical equipment and plumbing systems.