Product Review: Pyrok
August 1, 2009
What does the abbreviation “NRC” mean to you? To acousticians it usually means Noise Reduction Coefficient, a single number rating for the absorptive characteristics of a specific material AND mounting condition at four frequencies within the range of speech. It
Project Profile: Quintiles
August 1, 2009
Quintiles Transnational, which helps pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies develop and market innovative therapies, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters in Durham, North Carolina. At 252,000 square feet, the new, 10- story, glass-and-concrete structure, with room
Focus on Technology: TEA’s SATE Conference
August 1, 2009
Storytelling. Architecture. Technology. Experience. These are the four basic components of a successful visitor attraction and perhaps any facility that involves a human experience. Since the beginning of time, storytelling has incorporated props and special effects (even if just a
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 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
More Client Expectations
February 6, 2009
“Learn who your client is, ask about their expectations, and listen to the answer.” That was how I closed my previous column, in which I detailed some of our experiences being on the client side of the fence, while building