The Aula Magna, historically denominated Aula of Philosophers, at the University of Parma is part of a 16th century palace located in the core of the city centre. The Aula Magna hosts periodically degree celebrations which students are pleased to present their final theses for. The geometrical composition of the room, provided with a wagon vault, and the high level of reflections due to the hard materials of the boundary surfaces lead to a poor level of speech intelligibility. This paper deals with an acoustic design review of the current furniture inside the auditorium other than to a calibration of the existing amplified system. Acoustic measurements have been undertaken before and after the application of the project design in accordance with the standard requirements outlined by ISO 3382-1. A digital model has been realised to carrying out numerical simulations regarding the application of the acoustic treatments, assessed with a high level of accuracy. The quantity and quality of the proposed absorbing panels improve the listening conditions to a certain degree of comfort to be within the optimal range of rooms having similar function and volume size
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=21682
