pinta acoustic’s WHISPERWAVE™ and SONEX® Valueline Panels Absorb Sound and Add a Flowing Wave Design to Northwest ISD Aquatic Center

Located in Justin, Tex., the Northwest ISD (NISD) Aquatic Center is a multiuse facility that includes a 71-yard (65-meter) stretch competition pool, four-lane 25-yard (27.34-meter) practice pool, seating for 850 guests and a full-service sports medicine rehabilitation center. To improve the user experience and minimize acoustical issues that are common to indoor pools, pinta acoustic’s WHISPERWAVE™ and SONEX® Valueline acoustic panels in custom colors were installed in the new 80,000-square foot (7432-square meter) facility.

Prior to the opening of NISD Aquatic Center in January 2021, the school district rented facilities in other communities for swimming and diving, which required travel outside of the area and limited practice times. Built to accommodate five high school swim teams, the aquatic center is located on the central campus to provide convenient access to students and the community.

Most people have experienced the echo in indoor pools that leads to difficulty hearing and understanding swimmers, coaches and lifeguards, which can pose a safety risk. The pinta acoustic products absorb sound energy from coaching, raised voices from enthusiastic participants and spectators, buzzers and music. WHISPERWAVE and SONEX Valueline panels prevent sound waves from bouncing between hard planes such as concrete, glass and the water surface, which is a significant source of sound reverberation.

Lauren Hoyle, RID, from Huckabee architectural firm in Fort Worth, Tex., researched acoustic products that could withstand high humidity in the aquatic center. She presented a single combination of products to the building owner: pinta’s WHISPERWAVE and SONEX Valueline panels. Effective and visually appealing, the acoustic products are naturally resistant to mold, fungus and bacterial growth, making them ideal for an indoor pool facility.