Focus on Acoustics: Ceiling Treatments
August 1, 2009
Note: TA provided this article for the August 2009 issue of Buildings. Good acoustical design is an integral part of making a space fulfill its purpose. Whether we’re looking at retail space, a restaurant, open-plan offices, a videoconference room, a
Project Highlight: National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters
June 1, 2009
One of the top challenges at the new 237,000 sq. ft. North Carolina National Guard headquarters was to create infrastructure that would facilitate the real-time efforts of multiple agencies housed in the building – supporting their everyday work as well
Project Highlight: De Anza College Performing Arts Center
April 1, 2009
The new De Anza College Visual and Performing Arts Center in Cupertino, California held its grand opening March 6-8. The 20,500 square foot building on Stevens Creek Boulevard is a unique resource for the arts in Silicon Valley and was
Focus on Acoustics: Hear and Be Heard – The Case for Acoustics in Themed Entertainment
April 1, 2009
Just as they are for conference rooms, auditoriums and commercial spaces, acoustical considerations are integral to the design of family entertainment centers, themed restaurants, theme parks, water parks, museums and other visitor attractions. (We call it Acoustically Integrated aRchitecture, or
Product Reviews: The Thorburn Office Experience
April 1, 2009
The new equipment and infrastructure helps make Thorburn Associates’ new North Carolina offices a pleasant, modern, functional space and an exemplary, working model of an open-plan office, featuring an exposed ceiling grid and first-rate acoustics. The office design is in
Focus on Acoustics: Acoustically Integrated Architecture in the LEED Era, Part I
February 1, 2009
The concept of Acoustically Integrated aRchitecture (AIR – a term coined by Thorburn Associates) is basic enough: AIR is a best practice in which the interface of disciplines (architecture, acoustics, AV engineering, lighting, interior design, etc.) creates spaces that foster
Project Highlight: Georgetown County Judicial Center
February 1, 2009
The Georgetown County Judicial Center in South Carolina is a brand new, 79,300 square foot, $19.5 million facility, designed by Michael Walker of Tych & Walker Architects. Thorburn Associates was brought onto the design team by Tych & Walker in
Focus on Technology: Build the Perfect Teaching Station
February 1, 2009
The perfect teaching station reflects the needs of the faculty; the facilities design group, and the technology maintenance people at the educational facility for which it is built. The instructors need a simple, no-hassle, minimal maintenance system that feels like