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 Technology: The Time is Ripe for Green AV
April 1, 2009
Unless you just arrived on this planet, you know the AEC industry is pursuing ways to conserve energy resources and go “green”. With ten percent of the new economic stimulus package being invested in green projects, the AV industry is
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
Product Review: Analog Signage
December 1, 2008
Let’s face it: Sometimes you don’t need a projection system or a monitor. Sometimes you just need a sign! But even plain old signage has been moving forward and making the most of advances in technology. An example is the
Project News: Madison County Courthouse Restoration
December 1, 2008
Audiovisual systems in America’s courtrooms are nothing new these days. Many of us remember the O.J. Simpson murder trial and how Judge Ito would say, “Put it on the Elmo,” (Elmo being a brand of video document camera). Most new-construction
Focus on Acoustics: Sound Isolation between Workstations
October 1, 2008
As with all matters acoustical, things seem to come in waves. The latest revolution of problems to solve: private offices along window walls in office buildings. People have been complaining they hear everything that is said on the other side