Helipad Solutions
October 1, 2007
Corporations, television stations, police and firefighters use helipads, even high-end residential estates. The noise from the helicopters as they approach, land, and take off can be extremely disruptive to anyone within earshot. At Thorburn Associates our Engineers can provide the
Project Highlight: San Francisco GSA Building
August 1, 2007
The San Francisco Federal Building was designed by Thom Mayne, principal of Santa Monica-based Morphosis and assisted by The Smith Group in San Francisco. Located on Mission and Seventh Streets in the South of Market neighborhood, the SF Federal Building
Focus on Acoustics: High-Rise Buildings
August 1, 2007
Determining proper acoustics for high-rise buildings involves: the intention of the space, speech privacy, background noise and sound masking. The goal is to select acoustical finishes that will meet the visions of the owner and the architect while providing a
Project Highlight: Bartlett High School
April 1, 2007
Bartlett High School has a multi-function auditorium that doubles as a public venue for Performing Arts in Anchorage, Alaska. Designed and built on a high school budget, this theatre, “rivals that of the Anchorage Performance Arts Center,” said Jack Thomasen,
Project Highlight: San Jose Cambrian Branch Library
February 1, 2007
Libraries now days are competing with large bookstores and the Cambrian Branch has the means to be a contender. San Jose’s new library, designed by Anderson Brulé Architects, opened in November. The LEED certified building is 28,000 sq. ft. and
Sound Myth-Understandings
February 1, 2007
A myth is a story handed down through history, often orally, that explains the unknown. In some cases, we have heard these myths so often we never question their veracity. The word itself comes from the Greek, “mythos” which meant
Students to Have Access to New Technology for Film, Music and Dance
October 1, 2006
The Performing Arts Facility on the De Anza Community College campus in San Jose, CA is under construction. The building is designed as a multi-use facility serving as classroom space, an auditorium, exhibition area and lobby. Established in 1967, De
Travel Advisory for Sound
October 1, 2006
Sound travels on vibrating air molecules. To reduce the sound that is transmitted from room to room, Acoustical Consultants often specify resilient assemblies. These assemblies are placed inside the wall or ceiling–attached to the building frame–to reduce sound vibrations. There
Sound Health
April 1, 2006
Music can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and evoke an emotional response. A fast, upbeat tune gets your pulse racing; a leisurely one can slow down the pace. Hospitals are inevitably places that produce stress. Patients and family
Texlon, an Alternative Cladding System
December 1, 2005
One of the most underestimated criteria in people’s perception of their environment is the acoustic ambience. This is true whether the building is a large atrium, a foyer, a hospital, or a restaurant. The internal acoustics of the space has