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
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
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
Take a Walk on the Wild Side- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Wildlife Education Center
April 1, 2006
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission moved into their new building this past September. The 5-story structure on the University of North Carolina campus in Raleigh brings together previously scattered Commission departments. Amid the usual offices and administrative areas is
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
Deep Freeze – One Way to End Computer Downtime
December 1, 2005
If you are as tired as we are of computer downtime and related technical support costs caused by software conflicts, registry corruption, virus attack, or any other problem, we have a suggestion that may help. In researching products to solve
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
Conference Highlights: AIA Virginia, Design-Build, IAAPA
December 1, 2005
AIA Virginia: As part of our continuing commitment to support the architectural industry, Thorburn Associates presented a 2-hour session “Understanding Acoustics: What to Look for During a Design and Construction Site Visit” at the 17th annual Architecture Exchange East, held
Assessing Environmental Impacts – Air Quality
September 1, 2005
Often times when the noise quality is affected, so too is the air quality. For example, when a sound wall is built to reduce traffic noise, that same sound wall can “trap” vehicle emissions, and have a derogatory impact on