Acoustic comfort for the Carpi Tecnopolo
Earlier this year, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia reached out to us regarding an acoustic issue at the Tecnopolo di Carpi (Carpi Technology Hub). Despite being a newly built, modern, and fully furnished facility, the in-room listening experience fell short of expectations.
The discomfort wasn’t due to furnishings or technical systems—everything had been implemented correctly. What was missing was architectural acoustics. Large rooms, hard surfaces, smooth ceilings, and the absence of sound-absorbing treatments led to excessive reverberation, far beyond the levels acceptable in an educational environment.
Acoustic discomfort: an invisible yet tangible issue
Our first step was to listen carefully to the client and conduct a thorough spatial analysis. Together with architect Elisabetta Vidoni Guidoni UniMoRe’s project lead, whom we thank for her sensitivity and attention to this specific issue, we performed instrumental acoustic measurements in three representative spaces: a 120-seat lecture hall, a 50-seat classroom, and a 20-square-meter office.
Using a dodecahedral sound source and a sound level meter, we confirmed what users had already reported: the rooms suffered from excessive reverberation, which significantly impaired speech intelligibility. An effort had already been made to compensate by using a directional audio system specifically tuned for the space, but the physical characteristics of the rooms meant that only an architectural acoustic intervention could truly resolve the issue.
What could be done
Because the rooms and offices were already in use equipped with systems and fully furnished – our options were naturally constrained. Our task became one of careful assessment and compromise: on one side, the requirements of the UNI 11532-2:2020 standard, which defines acoustic criteria for educational environments; on the other, the real-world conditions of the spaces.
We focused our efforts on the frequency range of human speech – since the primary use of these rooms is teaching – and targeted the two key parameters defined by the standard: reverberation time and STI (Speech Transmission Index).
But our approach went beyond mere compliance, as it’s the interplay between these parameters that ultimately determines the overall quality of acoustic comfort.
A light-touch, effective, and reversible intervention
Our solution involved installing ceiling-mounted sound-absorbing panels designed to reduce sound reflections and improve acoustic comfort. We selected panels with a mineral wool core and a nanoparticle-infused foam facing, offering strong acoustic performance along with aesthetic flexibility.
Because the intervention had to work within the constraints of existing systems, we took a tailored approach: identifying viable installation areas, avoiding conflicts with technical infrastructure, and in some cases designing custom panel solutions to fit the specific needs of each space.
“After completing the installation,” said Leonardo Rossi, Multimedia System & Acoustics Designer at Cavea Engineering, “we repeated the acoustic measurements: reverberation time had returned to optimal levels. But the most meaningful feedback came immediately afterward—from the voices of professors and students. The environment became noticeably clearer, more comfortable, and much better suited for learning.”
This project clearly demonstrates that acoustic comfort is a key component of spatial quality – especially in educational settings. We successfully restored the usability and effectiveness of the Carpi Technology Hub’s learning spaces without invasive measures and without disrupting academic activities.
