Jan. 22, 2003

Contact: James Modig, Design and Construction Management, (785) 864-3431.

University works with neighbors to ease noise from residence hall 'chiller'

LAWRENCE -- The atmosphere outside a KU residence hall promises to be as pleasant as the atmosphere inside when contractors install a new noise barrier. Design and Construction Management designed the barrier in accordance with recommendations from a senior-level engineering course.

New air conditioners were installed at Gertrude Sellards Pearson Hall two years ago, touting efficiency, low maintenance and environmental friendliness. The GSP unit was one of five state-of-the-art "chillers" on campus. Unfortunately, the GSP air conditioner turned out to be less than perfect when residents of the surrounding Oread neighborhood began to notice an unpleasant whine coming from the machine.

"I thought that the early (storm) warning system had gone off, but it never stopped," said Candy Davis, whose home on 10th Street is located about 60 yards from the unit. "There is a pitch to it, and you can hear it from inside your house as well. Before they turned that on in 2001, I never even thought about the air conditioner."

Davis, who also is president of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said the sound was enough of a problem that the neighborhood association approached the university to seek a solution.

KU's Design and Construction Management took on the problem, but without a funding source, the DCM team management looked within the university for expertise.

What began as a problem turned into a project for two architectural engineering classes guided by an expert in acoustic engineering.

After performing audio tests in the area surrounding each of the chillers, students found that the problem wasn't only the volume of the units but also the high-frequency tone they emitted. They focused their work on easing both.

DCM Director Jim Modig said that, using tools developed by professional acoustic engineers, the students developed a system of perforated metal panels surrounded by a masonry wall. The sound screen is expected to mitigate the chiller noise dramatically.

"I was very pleased with the simulation results and feel the neighborhood will be satisfied with the anticipated noise reduction by the acoustical screen wall," Modig said.

Construction, which will be paid for by the Department of Student Housing, is expected to be complete before the start of cooling season.

Davis said she was happy to have worked out a solution with KU.

"We want to have improved relations with the university," she said. "That's the goal. It's important."