Research Notes: On very hot and humid days like today, the best place to be in the city is at the Christian Science Center reflecting pool. The space closest to Huntington Avenue is quite tranquil and is the best place to sit and enjoy the church bells, the sounds of the water trickling off the edges of the pool, the calming winds, and the beautiful architecture. Unfortunately, this side of the space is the one most often disturbed by the noise from the road traffic, as Huntington Avenue is a very busy road. The other end of the space, near the Prudential, houses an open set of fountains and additional sitting areas. The cries of happy kids playing in the water–while loud on a decibel scale–are quite enjoyable. Today, we met up with Eli, a Norwegian singer-songwriter-guitarist, an international student at Berkeley College of Music, and a resident of Back Bay. To hear more of her beautiful voice visit her web page HERE. Here’s what she has to say about her neighborhood:
Name: Ms. Gauden
Date: 6/4/2016, 11:00 am
Neighborhood: Back Bay, Boston
Occupation: Student
On a scale of 1-10, how loud is your neighborhood? 7
Actual decibel level: 73.1 dBA (near Huntington Avenue) and 80.2 dBA (near the Prudential)
Tell us about the noise in your neighborhood: There is LOTS of construction. I also constantly hear the sounds of road traffic and ambulances.
Researcher Notes: Red Sox game today so the helicopters overhead are relentless. While there is loudness from the road traffic nearby, it’s almost drowned out by the screams of happy children playing in the huge water fountains.
