History 1980 22 young adults and their families decided to move from Sungei Way-Subang Methodist Church (SSMC) and establish the Damansara Utama Methodist Church. The church started their first service on the 6th of January, 1980 in a simple setup located not far from The Ship in Damansara Utama. 1988 DUMC moves to a two adjacent shop lots in another part of Damansara Utama. 1993 DUMC moves to its first owned premise located in Taman Mayang. The sanctuary could accommodate 500 people. 1996 DUMC starts its first vernacular service, the Chinese Church of DUMC.
1999 DUMC relocated to the former Ruby Cinema in SEA PARK. 2007 DUMC moves to its current premise, the Dream Centre. 2016 The Damansara Utama Methodist Church Auditorium is constructed, which could accommodate up to 2300 people.
METHODOLOGY Sound level meter The device was used to measure the sound intensity level (SIL) at different locations of the auditorium to identify: ● Sound concentration ● Sound shadow ● Background noise
Measuring tape The equipment was used to measure the distances between auditorium spaces.
Laser measure A measuring tool to measure the height and width of the exterior and interior of a building.
Portable Bluetooth Speaker A device used to present the acoustic performance within the auditorium.
PHOTOS
The DUMC Auditorium constitutes of design elements that has created a space with the intention of speech being audible and intelligible throughout. The surfaces of the multi-purpose auditorium should fulfill design requirements that reflects and projects the sound to the rear of the space for any ongoing services. ● ●
Volume= 28116m³ Floor surface Area= 2371.46m² ● Padded & Theatre Seats= 2306 Seats in Total Ground Floor: 1199 Seats First Floor: 1107 Seats
59DB
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Occupancy
Max dBA
Small auditoriums (≤500 seats)
35-39
Large auditoriums, theatres and churches (> 500 seats)
30-35
Table: Weighted criteria of auditoriums
Figure: Background noise reading as measured on site.
Background noise ●
The background noise measured using the digital sound level meter (38 to 41 dBA) is higher than the weighted criteria of large auditoriums (30-35 dBA).
●
This indicates that the selected case study has an undesirable background noise level which is caused by noise intrusions.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION 1. Noise sources and sound path ● ● ●
HVAC system (left side of the auditorium stage) Symphony Square corporate office tower construction (back of the auditorium) Natural weather conditions (such as thunder.)
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION
Diagram: The HVAC system noise source on ground level
Figure: The HVAC system noise source.
(A) HVAC system noise source The noise produced by the HVAC system, which is identified at the left side of the auditorium stage, is characterised as an interior noise. This is because the noise, which occurs within the building itself, is produced by ventilation system machineries.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION Although the source of the noise produced by the HVAC system can be easily identified, the actual system components which contribute to the noise remains unknown as they are concealed by walls near the backstage. However, airborne and structure-borne sound transmission allows the sound to be transmitted to the receiver through the mediums.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION
Diagram: The construction noise source on ground level.
Figure: The construction of the Symphony Square corporate office tower, as viewed from the back of DUMC.
(B) Symphony Square corporate office tower construction The noise produced by the construction of the Symphony Square corporate office tower, which is identified at the back of the auditorium, is characterised as an outdoor noise. This is because the noise produced by the construction equipment and machineries originates from the exterior of the building.
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION As the auditorium is located near the back of the building, noise which originates from the construction site is able to intrude the space easily. Possible sound path of the construction: ● Noise produced by the construction equipment and machineries undergoes airborne transmission, where the sound is transmitted through the air from the source. ● The unwanted sound (noise) is then transmitted from the air to the back façade of the church building ● The sound energy that is transmitted directly through the structure is reradiated from building elements such as walls and panels, and eventually reaches the recipient as air-borne sound. Figure: .Source of noise (pink) in respect to DUMC Auditorium’s location (blue).
NOISE AND NOISE INTRUSION
Figure: View of the upper gallery from ground level.
Figure: The exit doors at the gallery.
(C) Natural weather conditions Noises created by natural weather conditions, such as thunder, can be identified within the auditorium. These noises are outdoor noises, as their sources originate outside of the building. The noises created by natural weather conditions are transmitted into the auditorium via the exit doors at the gallery as they lack sound proofing treatments.
Diagram: .Transmission of noise from the external environment to the auditorium.
Figure: Glass windows on the first floor.
Figure: External aisle present on the first floor.
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The first floor level is fenestrated using normal glass windows with low sound reduction index. As such, airborne sound transmission allows the unwanted sound to be transmitted from the external environment into the first floor easily.
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An external aisle, which is present on the first floor right after the exit doors, allows this sound to be transmitted into the auditorium via the exit doors.