Project Profile: TA’s Most Memorable Projects

We want to take a little trip down memory lane and showcase some of our most memorable and interesting projects.

Space Shuttle Launch Blast Berm – We were part of the team that evaluated the impact of an earthen berm on the Shuttle Launch Vehicle. Following the 9/11 security improvements, the outer perimeter fence was being damaged by flying debris (a normal part of every launch). NASA wanted to construct an earthen berm to protect the fence but was concerned that reflection of sound off the berm would impact the launch vehicle, as the launch vehicle lifted off the pad. Fortunately, it was one of those great, non-problems. Our engineering calculations indicated that because the shuttle lifts off so fast, by the time the sound would return to a point in the flight path for the primary reflection, the SSLV would be well past that point!

HP Briefing Center – We have had the good fortune of working over and over again with a number of our clients. Hewlett Packard is one of those clients for whom we have completed over 70 different projects (to date). The Cupertino Campus Executive Briefing Center was one of the more notable and larger projects. Though this project was back in 2000, the center’s rooms were controlled by an AMX networked control system; at the time the largest IP networked control system in existence. This and the in-room video monitoring systems for catering, allowed the staff of the EBC to view into the rooms and control (i.e. fix something) from any point on the campus when the call for help came up.

Littoral Warfare Training Center – This is a Situation Ready room for when command staff review training for use of new warfare equipment and technologies. Because of the room’s security requirements we designed cell phone blockers and other acoustical treatments. The rest of the AV was really cool but… if we told you…..(check out the full blog post)

John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center – Campbell University needed a new space for graduation ceremonies and other campus wide events, including hosting the basketball team and other court sports. The acoustical design addressed the reverberation control, but care was taken not to make it too quiet for the home team advantage. The sound system was designed to allow for quick reconfiguration of the signal routing to change from court sports to presentations to support for concerts.

LEGOLAND – This project is the work of our new partner, Patrick Gallegos of Gallegos Lighting. For this 35-acre themed experience he provided lighting for all of the interior and exterior architecture and attractions. One of the neat aspects is that flickering firelight and blue moonlight defines the lighting and helps to provide depth and life to the Castle, the centerpiece of the medieval Castle Hill area of this California theme park.

Cerritos Library – Another project from our lighting studio’s prior experience is the Cerritos Library in Cerritos, CA. The children’s library portion of this amazing “Library for the 21st Century” incorporates an indoor ‘weatherdome’ which simulates diurnal and storm cycles, achieved through the careful integration and programming of red-blue-green color sources, theatrical and projected lighting effects.

Not all of our projects are big, for example during one project meeting a team member remarked that his wife had just bought a fish tank and had filled it with fish. The tank was located in the living room, and on the other side of the wall from the niche that held the tank was the head of his bed. The problem was the small circulating pump was just too noisy. He told us the size of the footprint of the pump. We had a sample of a vibration isolation pad about the right size. He tried it and said it did not work. It turned out the pump was too light. So we found an old brick that had been used in college, as a book end. We sat it on the pad and then the pump on the brick. The outcome – a happy couple! She got to keep the fish and he got to sleep with the fish without the noise and vibration from the pump. All we needed was a little mass for that inertia base to work. Yes, this was a small project, but it was very rewarding.

We hope you have enjoyed our trip down memory lane!