The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Tower, Toronto /
Diamond & Schmitt Architects

situation:

“Sick Kids” is a leader in medical research and education with facilities are scattered throughout their complex. To stay at the leading edge of research, Sick Kids is consolidating research and education in a new, 26-storey, state-of-the-art facility in downtown Toronto.

assessment:

Specific challenges we tackled were the design of the 250 seat auditorium, acoustic design of the vivarium, and noise and vibration controls for the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The 250 seat auditorium is to be used for tele-education, but will be located above the loading dock. The vivarium is a sensitive space as the research animals can be affected by undue noise and vibration. The MRI suite and electron microscopes are very sensitive to vibration. Aercoustics provided recommendations and designs for sound isolation, acoustic criteria, noise and vibration controls.

solution:

It is essential that the auditorium be quiet for broadcasting. This required us to evaluate the room acoustics, specify noise control for the mechanical system and recommend the sound isolation design. To minimize the noise intrusions from the loading dock, we designed a floating construction for the auditorium. This was a challenge as the details for floating an elliptical-shaped room are complex. We also created a 3D computer model which enabled us to develop the acoustic design for the room.

For vibration control in the MRI unit, we conducted an ambient vibration survey to consider potential exterior vibration sources. We also created a finite element model (FEM) of the MRI floor to consider the effect of pedestrian traffic in the neighbouring corridors and provided the recommended design for the floor including the thickness and stiffness, and a structural break between the MRI unit and the neighboring corridor.

results:

This is an ongoing project combining the full range of acoustic, noise and vibration control analysis and design.