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
Product Review: PowerPax Battery Caddy
February 1, 2009
Here’s an item that exemplifies the virtues of simplicity and utility: the PowerPax Battery Caddy, manufactured in St. Charles, IL. It’s like an egg carton for batteries. Loose batteries are a potential acid-leaking hazard, and hard to keep track of.
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 Technology: AV & IT Convergence
December 1, 2008
Convergence seizes two different technologies that originated with different purposes, and integrates them to have a common function in a common environment. In the current evolution of the Audiovisual industry, there is a convergence with the Information Technology Industry, so
Focus on Acoustics: The Cocktail Party Effect
December 1, 2008
We’ve all been to parties – especially around this time of year as we celebrate the holidays – and noticed how noisy these events can become. As the wine runs low, the noise level often runs high, but what’s really
Product Review: Netwell Noise Control
October 1, 2008
Minneapolis-based Netwell has been serving the acoustics industry for more than 20 years with a wide range of noise control products. Netwell supplies more than 60 products to the acoustics market and prides itself on cost-effectiveness and small orders. Sound