Using sound to transform spaces: An interview with Kristina Sells

United States | Friday, June 7, 2024
Reading Time : 3:40 minutes

Acoustic design is the deliberate consideration of sound in the built environment. Kristina Sells is co-leader of a team that is aiming to improve how acoustic design has traditionally been delivered. Instead of siloed solutions handed off to a design partner, her team is focusing on collaborative efforts between the other design disciplines to create spaces that are cost effective, buildable and acoustically pleasing to the end users.

Below, Kristina shares about her path in this important discipline and how thoughtful design for acoustics, noise and vibration plays a critical role in creating supportive spaces for people.

How did you get into acoustic design?

Acoustic design found me by accident. I majored in mechanical engineering at the University of Hawaii, but about six months into my first role, I realized that mechanical engineering wasn’t right for me. Around that same time, I ran into a college friend whose firm was looking for an entry-level acoustic consultant. I didn’t even know what an acoustic consultant did, but I’d always been sensitive to noise, so I gave it a shot. Quickly, I learned that acoustic work was much more aligned with my interests. I’ve been working in this space for 12 years now, seven with WSP.

What don’t people know about acoustic design?

When people think about acoustic design, they often think of performance spaces and music halls; rooms with fabric-wrapped wall panels and fancy curved walls. There’s a misunderstanding that acoustic design is only applicable to these types of specialty buildings, but acoustics affects so many spaces that people use in their daily lives.

Acoustic design in a healthcare space, for instance, can improve a patient's ability to rest and recover. It can help to reduce noise transmissions into a classroom, which makes it easier for students to focus on their lessons. When acoustics are considered in an office setting, conference rooms can be designed so that audio on phone calls can be better understood. Acoustic engineering has a place in all markets, and it can affect how a place makes you feel and what you get out of a space.

Kristina Sells

Acoustics Practice Co-Lead

United States

Contact

Related themes and tags

IMAGE CREDIT: EARL SWENSSON ASSOCIATES (ESa)

Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Tacoma, WA: Acoustic services for this new hospital included exterior noise measurements for mechanical equipment and helicopters for the new helipads, both to the surrounding communities as well as through the building façade to the interior spaces.

What unique expertise do you bring to WSP’s acoustics practice?

My wide range of experience brings value to our practice. I’ve worked on acoustics in hospitality spaces, government buildings, K-12 schools, higher education campuses, commercial buildings and mission critical facilities. With each new project, I draw from past experiences across markets to know what questions to ask and what aspects of sound should be considered. For instance, on a transportation project where we were hired on as peer reviewers, I was able to help to identify a gap in the acoustic scope which included speech intelligibility modeling of the public address system.

What advice would you give aspiring consultants?

The best advice I can share is the same advice that someone gave me: don’t be afraid of asking questions. Early in my career, I tended to sit back quietly and figure things out myself. But sometimes that method led to wasted time or incorrect assumptions. Asking questions makes you a better designer and teammate by showing your team that you’re trying to do your best. Curiosity is helpful for everyone.

I see the value of this advice in our own practice. We’re part of a growing U.S. acoustics team that’s connected to a larger global network of acoustic consultants in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. We partner not necessarily through projects, but through knowledge sharing. We have a communication tool where we ask questions and share insights on project details or standards that our colleagues may have experience with. Within hours, our questions have responses with perspectives from around the world. Two-way communication is beneficial for the entire team.

IMAGE CREDIT: WCIT ARCHITECTURE

Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, HI: Acoustic services for the renovated Turtle Bay Resort included interior sound isolation between spaces, recommendations for interior finishes to reduce reverberation times for spaces such as the lobby and MEP system noise and vibration control, all leading to enhanced visitor experience and enjoyment.

What makes a place, and what’s your favorite place?

For me, people make a place: Friends, family, coworkers. Being with people and enjoying all that a place has to offer make the experience.

Before joining WSP, my husband and I spent three years traveling around the world and living in different countries. At the end of the trip, our favorite places were those where we’d meet up with loved ones to share food and time. Now, my favorite place is anywhere my family is and where we spend time together.