This multimedia courseware focuses on an acoustical design of the polyvalent hall at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Center on the island of Mauritius. The multi-use hall was praised as a “fabulous building and quite and achievement” after successfully hosting a United Nations conference without any acoustical problems. Later, as a band rehearsed for the building’s first rock concert, the sound quality fell severely short of expectations. A problem arose with the loud music, requiring a reconsideration of the hall’s design before it could provide satisfactory acoustics for any similar events.

The materials provided here will introduce students to the following concepts:

• Solving a design problem using global engineering standards
• Applying the mechanics of acoustical design and acoustics engineering
• Evaluating multiple alternative solutions to a design problem using a Decision Support System

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