Architectural engineering students who choose the acoustics track within the Mechanical/Acoustics emphasis option have the opportunity to apply principles of sound to the design of the built environment.
Our students learn to:
- Select wall and floor/ceiling assemblies to achieve sufficient sound isolation ratings
- Adjust form and materials to cater a room's acoustics to speech or music
- Predict and control noise levels emitted by Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) equipment
- Measure occupational noise exposure
- and more!
AE Courses in Acoustics
AREN 3300: Building Acoustics Fundamentals
Required for all AE students
An introduction to the acoustics of buildings. Topics include the fundamentals of sound generation, propagation, and measurement; human hearing; acoustic properties of materials and constructions; basic room acoustics; and noise control.
AREN 4300: Advanced Noise Control
Required for all students in the Mechanical/Acoustics emphasis
Characterization of acoustic sources; use and measurement of sound power and intensity; sound-structure interaction; acoustic enclosures and barriers; muffling devices; vibration control; and active noise control.
AREN 8330: Advanced Architectural Acoustics
Graduate elective, open to all MAE students
Advanced study of the behavior of sound in rooms. Design of acoustical spaces; physical and computational modeling; measurement techniques; and introduction to sound reinforcement in rooms.
The UNL Durham School's AE program is...
Where our acoustics students intern...
- ABD Engineering & Design (Portland, OR)
- Alvine (Omaha, NE)
- BG Buildingworks/RTM (Avon, CO)
- DLR Group (Omaha, NE)
- HDR (Minneapolis, MN)
- Threshold Acoustics (Chicago, IL)
- WJHW (Dallas, TX)
- and more!
Where our acoustics graduates work...
Our alumni are actively employed in 17 U.S. states!
Post-graduate career paths in acoustics
Acoustical design consulting
Acoustical design consultants manage all aspects of acoustical design, which could include:
- Design of shaping, sizing, structures, and finishes to influence room acoustics
- Design of assemblies to provide airborne and impact sound isolation between sensitive spaces
- Control of noise and vibration generated by HVAC equipment
- Design of outdoor barriers to meet environmental noise ordinances
Acoustical consultants may work for firms that specialize in acoustical consulting, or as a part of larger full-service A/E firms.
For more information about acoustical consulting, refer to the National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC) website.
Audiovisual design consulting
Audiovisual design consultants support building design through their expertise in the integration of technology, which could include:
- Design of systems for presentation, collaboration, and conferencing
- Design of speech reinforcement systems
- Design of large-format display systems
- Design of artificial reverberation systems
Audiovisual consultants may work for firms that specialize in audiovisual consulting, or as a part of larger full-service A/E firms. There are also firms which specialize in both acoustical and audiovisual consulting.
Research
Postgraduate research in architectural acoustics opens doors to careers in academia, government, and industry, advancing knowledge of sound in the built environment. Researchers in building acoustics help shape healthier, more comfortable spaces through innovations in noise control practices, building design and materials, and examining the interaction between buildings and their occupants.
Teaching
Graduates who go on to share their expertise help train the next generation of engineers and architects, building a deeper understanding of how sound shapes our built environment.
Commissioning
Through on-site testing, verification, and collaboration with design teams, commissioning professionals ensure that standards of safety, comfort, and quality are achieved.
Forensic acoustics
Forensic acousticians apply their knowledge of acoustics to provide expert witnesses in legal issues, which could include:
- Evaluations of alleged occupational hearing loss
- Issues of product liability
- Hearing conservation programs
- Environmental noise impact on property
- Audibility of conversations and warning signals
For more information on forensic acoustics, see these resources:
Meet the Nebraska Acoustics Group (NAG)
The Nebraska Acoustics Group (NAG) is comprised of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students in the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Engineering. NAG meets monthly throughout the academic year to discuss all-things related to architectural acoustics, including upcoming acoustics conferences, experiences of local performances, and acoustics in the news. Additionally, each NAG meeting features a presentation from one of the Nebraska Acoustic Group members. These presentations focus on the acoustics research being conducted at the University of Nebraska, as well as pertinent equipment, methodologies, or recent journal papers related to architectural acoustics.
