Towards Climate-Responsive Acoustics: A Design Guideline Integrating Acoustic Best Practice with Environmental Considerations for Tropical Conference Centers

Abstract

Conference centers in tropical regions face a persistent design tension between the ventilation strategies required for thermal comfort and the acoustic isolation required for speech intelligibility. Acoustic design guidance for conference centers has been developed almost entirely within temperate contexts and transferred to tropical regions without adaptation. The transfer is unsound, because the environmental strategies on which tropical buildings depend; extensive natural ventilation, large openings, lightweight roofing and durable hard finishes are part of the strategies that degrade acoustic performance, while high humidity progressively reduces the effectiveness of the porous absorbers on which conventional acoustic remedies rely. Architects who design tropical conference centers consequently work without integrated guidance on how to reconcile two climatic performance requirements that conflict. This study develops an integrated, stage-based acoustic design guideline for conference centers in tropical climates, synthesized from a systematic literature review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 protocol. The synthesis draws together evidence on auditorium geometry and room proportioning, side- and rear-wall reflection control, the selection and performance of absorptive, diffusive and resonant acoustic materials, reverberation and sound-distribution targets, sound masking and intelligent acoustic systems, and digital acoustic simulation. These constituents are consolidated into a six-stage guideline spanning pre-design, architectural form, wall and ceiling treatment, material selection, environmental and mechanical integration, and acoustic systems and technology, supported by a summary framework table linking each stage to its key actions and evidence base. The guideline is intended as a practical, evidence-based reference for architects, acoustic consultants and engineers and facility planners engaged in the design of conference facilities in tropical region.