MAPLEWOOD POLICE AND COURT BUILDING
The new Maplewood Police and Court Building is a Goldstein Partnership architectural design with acoustical design by Ostergaard Acoustical Associates. OAA provided acoustical consultation concerning room acoustics, sound isolation constructions, HVAC system noise control, and noise code compliance. This project achieved LEED Silver.
COURTROOM: Subtle acoustical adjustments to the courtroom facilitate speech communication without amplification. The wood-paneled walls in the well area are angled to control flutter echo and project sound for better hearing. The side and rear walls in the seating area incorporate acoustical panels for reverberation and echo control. The HVAC system incorporates noise control in order to not interfere with audibility.
FIRING RANGE: The firing range is located adjacent to non-critical spaces to reduce the need for special sound isolating constructions. It employs a baffled, sound-absorbent ceiling to reduce firing and target impact noise. The greatest acoustical design challenge was noise control of range ventilation systems that exhaust large volumes of air to the building exterior.
FITNESS CENTER: The police fitness center is located beneath the lobby. Found light is provided via glass tiles in the lobby floor. Based on an OAA analysis of the room, a spray sound-absorbent finish was specified for the canted perimeter of the ceiling. This finish controls reverberation and noise.
NOISE CODE COMPLIANCE: The building has rooftop HVAC equipment and an on-grade exterior emergency generator. Both are required to meet the limits of the New Jersey Noise Code. OAA identified noise control features for Code compliance and provided acoustical performance specifications for these features.