One of the great things about being part of the local architecture and engineering industry is giving back to the students in our community who have an interest in the same field. For the last three years I have been a volunteer with The Academy of Design and Construction at Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Union High School. The program is based on teaching high school students about the construction industry. (more)
OHSA Requirements for Employee Noise Exposure
We frequently get calls to come and assess noise levels in industrial facilities. The concern is usually whether the employee’s exposure to noise is meeting OSHA requirements. So what are standard OSHA requirements for employee noise exposure? (more)
HIPAA Speech Privacy Acoustics
Standing atop my soapbox and surveying the healthcare land as we know it, I can declare at the top of my lungs, “I have a right to be heard… er, NOT HEARD… wait, wait… I have a right that a reasonable effort has been made to ensure that I won’t be heard!” I apologize for the confusion, and if you bear with me, I’ll show you why it is important to note that my awkward dialog has some relevance here. (more)
David Byrne of Talking Heads Talks About Acoustics
In this TED Conference video, David Byrne, lead singer of Talking Heads, gives us a brief a history of music and how it evolved in relation to architectural acoustics and reverberation. Worth the watch.
One issue this video doesn’t address is that architectural acoustics can be designed and optimized in any building. Sure, Carnegie Hall has a signature sound, but that sound can be altered. He mentions in the video that arenas are notorious for terrible acoustics. Again it doesn’t have to be that way. At Acoustics By Design, we engineer acoustical solutions for everything from nightclubs to theaters to outdoor amphitheaters. With the right tools, experience, and expertise, we can design the acoustical performance for your next performance space.
How Many Lumens Do I Need? Tips for Selecting Projector Brightness
We all have seen nice big projector screens that have an image that is just too dim to be clearly seen. To protect against this occurrence, we set a target brightness level during the design process, and we base it on a number of variables. The physical screen size needs to be compared to the amount of light from the projector. This comparison will give us lumens per square foot of screen. The lumens per foot result is compared with a target to determine if the projector is bright enough or even too bright. But how do we determine the target? (more)
Industrial Noise Mitigation Strategies
We were recently called in to help with controlling the noise levels at an engine test facility. I went to the site to take noise measurements in various areas of the facility. The problem was not within the test cells, but from all the external equipment needed to run the cells from air compressors, to dynamometer drives, to engine exhaust vents. The sound levels were not above the OSHA requirements but were definitely loud enough to warrant some noise mitigation. So what are the key considerations for industrial facility noise control? (more)
Classroom Audio-Visual Technologies that Work
“It depends.” This is probably my most frequent response I give when people ask me a tech-related question. Why? Because the answer to the question will vary depending on circumstances, factors, and requirements. So when someone asks me, “What’s the best AV technology to put into a classroom?” My answer usually is, “It depends.” What we first need to know is what the appropriate type and quantity of technology is in order to support the curriculum and teaching style of the school. (more)
Medicare Funding Linked To Patient Satisfaction Scores
How important is acoustics in hospitals? Just ask Medicare. A recent Washington Post article highlights how Medicare reimbursement payments for hospitals will be linked to patient satisfaction scores (such as Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Surveys). What does this have to do with acoustics? As it turns out, acoustics is the worse scoring section of patient satisfaction surveys nationwide! (more)
Seven Common Acoustical Mistakes and Misconceptions
Acoustics really is a complicated subject. Many of our recommendations need to be formed on a case-by-case basis, and some of that advice is based on principles that are not very intuitive. So here is a short list of common acoustical misconceptions: (more)
Sound System Commissioning and Equalization
What is the most important step in designing a sound system? Of course, every step is important, but I might argue that the final equalization is perhaps the most critical step, and often the most overlooked. Assuming a good design has been put together on paper and that the system has been installed as it was intended to be, it’s then time to put the finishing touches on everything. Equalizing (or commissioning) a large sound system is the final step in this complex process. (more)
How Much Acoustical Absorption Do I Need?
Every year my nieces’ elementary school has a winter concert in their gym. Excited kids from all grade levels file into one side of the gym while the parents and friends squeeze into every remaining space. It’s wonderful to see all the kids singing so proudly, but it gets very difficult to hear the music in such a lively space with the parents talking and moving around to get the best camera shot. At Acoustics By Design, we get called in frequently to help design acoustical improvements for large spaces like school gymnasiums, cafeterias, and large classrooms. The big question is always “how much absorption do we need?” (more)
The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics
Open office spaces with movable partitions and reconfigurable workstations have become more than a hot trend in office facility design; they have become the new normal. As acoustical consultants, we often work on open office spaces, and we always begin the conversation with something we call “The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics.” (more)
Digital Signage Systems for Hotels & Convention Facilities
Ever been in a large convention facility for the first time? Running a bit late and don’t know what room your meeting is in? Even if you have the room number, is the signage good enough to point you down the right hallway? If you are anything like me you will wander around just long enough to now be late to the meeting. (more)
Have you ever increased the volume of your music or television program in an effort to “drown out” your noisy neighbors? Or have you noticed how difficult it is to hear a conversation while walking along a busy street? In both of these situations, the “masker” (your music/television, traffic) is changing the threshold at which the “signal” (noisy neighbors, conversation) is perceptible. In other words, some sounds are masking – or covering over – the other sounds. (more)
How It Works: Acoustical Points in LEED for Health Care
Good News… after long delays, LEED for Health Care was finally released for public consumption! This blog provides a basic overview of how to meet the new acoustical requirements in LEED HC. In fact, your next LEED for Healthcare project can gain two points just by following good acoustical design practices that protect patient medical records, increase patient satisfaction, and provide for a quieter workplace. (more)
What is a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS)?
Most industries have some sort of accreditation process by which individuals and companies within that industry are recognized as being competent and knowledgeable within that field. For instance, architects are accredited by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and acousticians are accredited by the National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC). An individual that has these credentials has passed the necessary examinations, peer review, and required work hours to carry the credentials so that people who hire them can be assured they know what they are doing. So just what is a CTS? (more)
What Is An Architectural Coordinator?
I’m Mindy Tangney, Architectural Coordinator for Acoustics By Design. Clients often ask me “What does ‘architectural coordinator’ mean? Are you coordinating Architects? Are you doing architecture for ABD?” Well, not exactly. Let me explain. (more)
Acoustics By Design Honored As One of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Country!
For the first time in its history, the National Association for Business Resources has named the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in the country. And guess what? Acoustics By Design made the list, alongside companies like Verizon Wireless, Henry Ford Health System, Amway, and American Academy of Pediatrics. (more)
New ADA Assistive Listening System Requirements
Most people who work in the construction industry are aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (commonly referred to as the ADA) and the general impacts it has on how buildings are constructed. On September 15, 2010 the Department of Justice published a series of revised regulations. One section of these updates deals with requirements for ADA Assistive Listening Systems for persons who have hearing disabilities. It’s a subtle change, but a big deal. (more)
How Does Acoustical Absorption Work?
Walk outside on a cold winter day just after the first big snowfall and you can hear the hush in the air. Everything sounds different because that hush in the air is the snow absorbing sound. Now, compare that to walking into a gym where the sound bounces around and lingers in the room. Also, have you wondered why some hotel rooms are “soundproof” and some seem to have walls that are paper thin? (more)
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