The Jose Cabanis School was conceived as a multifunctional educational facility, bringing together early learning spaces, elementary classrooms, and public amenities including a daycare centre, library, multipurpose room, and canteen. With such diversity of use, the quality of the acoustic environment was a determining factor for comfort, concentration, and inclusion.
In schools, noise is not just a background nuisance—it directly impacts children’s ability to learn. Younger pupils are especially vulnerable, as their auditory and cognitive systems are still developing. The project therefore had to address a fundamental question: how to reduce noise levels in classrooms without compromising the architectural or environmental ambitions. The stakes were high, as the school aimed for an exceptional suite of green certifications, including HQE, BREEAM, BBC, Effinergie, and H&E, where acoustics form a key part of overall performance.
Delhom Acoustics was appointed from the earliest design stages to deliver a strategy that combined environmental efficiency with acoustic comfort. Our study focused on reverberation control in education environments, ensuring that classrooms, workshops, and sensitive spaces such as the library and nursing room would provide clarity of speech and calm soundscapes.
We established strict classroom sound insulation targets, reinforcing partitions and door assemblies to protect quiet zones from disturbances caused by the canteen, multipurpose hall, and circulation areas. Structural impact noise was managed through flooring solutions, and technical equipment was reviewed to limit background noise from HVAC and mechanical systems. All solutions were developed in close coordination with the architectural team, so that acoustic comfort could be achieved without compromising the school’s environmental targets. In this way, the Jose Cabanis project reflects a broader approach to school acoustics in France, where sustainability and learning conditions are treated as inseparable goals.
Through early collaboration with Architecture 360°, Delhom Acoustics ensured that every space in the Jose Cabanis School contributes to a healthy and effective learning environment. Classrooms now offer a level of comfort where teachers can speak with ease, students can remain attentive, and learning unfolds without unnecessary distractions.
The project illustrates in practice how to reduce noise levels in classrooms, proving that good acoustic planning is inseparable from educational quality. By achieving high standards in both sustainability and acoustics, the school stands as a model for future-ready learning environments in France.
