The development of improved design parameters on the enhancement of acoustic performance in auditoriums and a case study

It is determined that, in the last twenty years, due to rapid depletion of Earth?s resources and the ongoing economic crisis, the aim of researchers who have been contributing to the world literature on room acoustics was based on improving the design parameters in order to provide the required acoustic conditions for different functions in a single room, and auditoriums have been designed to be multi-purpose accordingly. Examining the multi-purpose auditoriums built in the last twenty years, passive systems like the coupled volumes system, the acoustical curtains, the movable orchestra pit and the movable orchestra shell have been predicted to be effective in providing the required room acoustic conditions needed for variant functions and design parameters were developed in this context. Within the scope of this research; the performance criteria which are needed for providing the required room acoustic conditions for different functions such as conference, concert, opera and theater were defined first, as suggested by the related international standards and literature. In the second phase of the study, a multi-purpose auditorium is designed to provide the required room acoustic conditions for distinct functions in the same room using passive systems that are currently being developed and using the simulation software ODEON, analyses for room acoustics were made by computer modelling techniques. Examining the findings of this research, that are aimed for improving the design parameters of these passive systems; with the coupled volumes system among the stage for concert function, and with the coupled volumes system among the orchestra pit for opera function, directly provided sound energy transfer is found to be effective in providing the required room acoustic conditions. In the results section, in conjunction with the performance criteria shedding light on multi-purpose auditorium design and the improved design parameters, a unique multi-purpose auditorium design is developed, tested and the validity of the hypothesis is proven.