Acoustics and Well-Being: Towards Healthy Environments

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 253

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Estructuras y Física de la Edificación, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Av. Juan de Herrera 4, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: acoustic absorption; acoustic insulation; eco-friendly materials; listening test; noise pollution; psychoacoustics; acoustic comfort

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The creation of acoustically optimized environments is essential for the holistic well-being of individuals. A controlled sound environment not only enhances quality of life but also generates direct positive impacts on physical and psychological health. Investment in advanced acoustic solutions offers long-term benefits that transcend mere auditory comfort, positively influencing public health, workplace productivity, and social cohesion. To acoustically optimize an interior space, it is crucial to implement a strategic synergy between cutting-edge materials and innovative technologies. Researching and developing sustainable solutions and high-efficiency acoustic materials are fundamental to significantly improve environmental quality in interior spaces and the outdoor environment.

This Special Issue aims to compile and analyze pioneering proposals for materials and techniques that enhance the acoustic properties of interior spaces in various contexts, including office environments, healthcare facilities, and educational settings. Additionally, detailed analytical studies will be presented, providing guidelines for the acoustic optimization of spaces and essential criteria for effective and efficient acoustic conditioning. This compendium intends to serve as a valuable resource for architects, acoustic engineers, interior designers, and construction professionals, providing up-to-date information and practical solutions for creating acoustically healthy and comfortable environments.

Prof. Dr. María Ángeles Navacerrada
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • acoustics comfort
  • public health
  • acoustic materials
  • innovative acoustic technologies
  • efficient acoustic conditioning
  • environmental noise

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 3004 KiB  
Article
Designing for Neonates’ Wellness: Differences in the Reverberation Time Between an Incubator Located in an Open Unit and in a Private Room of a NICU
by Virginia Puyana-Romero, Daniel Nuñez-Solano, Ricardo Hernández-Molina, Francisco Fernández-Zacarías, Juan Jimenez and Giuseppe Ciaburro
Buildings 2025, 15(9), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15091411 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 110
Abstract
Noise levels in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) significantly impact neonatal health, influencing stress levels, sleep cycles, and overall development. One critical factor in managing noise is reverberation time (T), which affects sound persistence and acoustic comfort. This study, conducted at the Universidad [...] Read more.
Noise levels in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) significantly impact neonatal health, influencing stress levels, sleep cycles, and overall development. One critical factor in managing noise is reverberation time (T), which affects sound persistence and acoustic comfort. This study, conducted at the Universidad de Las Américas in Quito, Ecuador, examines T in two NICU room types—open unit and private room. Measurements were taken in simulated environments to assess acoustic differences between these two designs. Results indicate that T is significantly lower in private rooms compared to open units, suggesting that private rooms provide a more controlled and acoustically favorable environment for neonates. Lower T reduces excessive noise exposure, improving sleep quality and minimizing stress responses in preterm infants. Furthermore, the findings align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), by advocating for hospital designs that enhance patient health and promote sustainable infrastructure. These results highlight the importance of integrating acoustically optimized spaces in NICUs to improve neonatal outcomes and contribute to a more sustainable healthcare system. Future research should further explore architectural solutions for noise reduction to refine NICU design standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustics and Well-Being: Towards Healthy Environments)
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