Vibration and Acoustic Isolation Of The Dallas Convention Center

The expansion of the Dallas Convention Center includes the world's largest column-free exhibit hall. The location of the hall required spanning four heavy-rail tracks and two light-rail tracks. Prior to construction, vibrations at a frequency of 4–5 Hz were measured on the ground as trains passed through the construction site. Conventional construction techniques would have allowed these vibrations to enter the exhibit hall resulting in unacceptable noise and vibration levels. To resolve this problem, an isolation system utilizing steel springs and rubber bearings was designed to reduce the vibration inside the exhibit hall. Noise reduction achieved through the vibration isolation system, choice of building materials, and acoustical glass eliminated concerns about the impact of passing trains. The determination of the isolation requirements and the design of the vibration and acoustic isolation systems are discussed in this paper.