Sound, noise, acoustical comfort in healthy buildings with ethan bourdeau

Welcome to episode 48 of the Green & Healthy Places podcast in which we discuss the themes of wellbeing and sustainability in real estate.

I’m your host, Matt Morley of Biofilico Healthy Buildings and in this episode we’re in New York talking to Ethan Bourdeau, the Sound Concept Lead at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) - the organization powering the WELL healthy building rating system.

An architectural acoustician, Ethan also runs Bourdeau Acoustical Design to provide consultation and planning services for critical listening, performance venue, residential, restaurant, retail, and commercial projects internationally.

Additionally, he holds down a role as Executive Director of Standards and Built Environment for Quiet Parks International (QPI).

Ethan and I discuss the role of acoustics in creating a comfortable environment for building occupants; how pink noise can cover up unwanted background noise, sound zones and spatial layouts; the all important distinction between sound, silence, the sounds of nature and noise; the role nature sounds can play in promoting wellness; and the main causes of noise in a building that need to be mitigated in a comprehensive healthy building acoustics plan in line with the WELL Sound concept he helped conceive.

GUEST / ETHAN BOURDEAU

• LinkedIn
• International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) profile
• WELL V2 SOUND

HOST / MATT MORLEY

• Biofilico healthy buildings
• Biofit wellness concepts