Programmable Acoustic Diffusion Surface

Description:
Produced in controlled factory conditions, Mass Timber panels, when installed, are often left exposed to showcase the natural beauty of the wood. This practice opens avenues for surface treatments to impact acoustic performance. Research on mass timber’s acoustic properties mainly centers on building acoustics and sound transmission. This project examines the potential of milling complex geometric patterns into mass timber walls and ceilings. These patterns not only enhance the space’s aesthetics and express the wood’s material qualities but also improve room acoustic performance through sound wave scattering properties that are tuned for specific frequencies programmed into the noise depths of the Schroder diffuser.















Client: Element5
Funding: Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Location: Element5 Office Meeting Room at 67 Mowat Ave. Toronto
Collaborators: Philipp Cop, Nicholas Hoban, Brady Peters
Student Collaborators: Nermine Hassanin, Rocks Cocks
Photographs: Yihan Xu