Acoustics By Design

How Does Sound Masking Work?

Kristen Murphy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:35:50 +0000

Have you ever increased the volume of your music or television program in an effort to “drown out” your noisy neighbors? Or have you noticed how difficult it is to hear a conversation while walking along a busy street? In both of these situations,...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

How It Works: Acoustical Points in LEED for Health Care

Kenric Van Wyk — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:02:24 +0000

Good News… after long delays, LEED for Health Care was finally released for public consumption! This blog provides a basic overview of how to meet the new acoustical requirements in LEED HC. In fact, your next LEED for Healthcare project can gain...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

What is a Certified Technology Specialist (CTS)?

Tim Hamilton — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:27:24 +0000

Most industries have some sort of accreditation process by which individuals and companies within that industry are recognized as being competent and knowledgeable within that field. For instance, architects are accredited by the American Institute...

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What Is An Architectural Coordinator?

Mindy Tangney — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:45:20 +0000

I’m Mindy Tangney, Architectural Coordinator for Acoustics By Design. Clients often ask me “What does ‘architectural coordinator’ mean? Are you coordinating Architects? Are you doing architecture for ABD?” Well, not exactly. Let me explain. In the...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Acoustics By Design Honored As One of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Country!

Tom Thelen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:20:06 +0000

For the first time in its history, the National Association for Business Resources has named the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in the country. And guess what? Acoustics By Design made the list, alongside companies like Verizon Wireless,...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

New ADA Assistive Listening System Requirements

Tim Hamilton — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:40:00 +0000

Most people who work in the construction industry are aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (commonly referred to as the ADA) and the general impacts it has on how buildings are constructed. On September 15, 2010 the Department of...

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How Does Acoustical Absorption Work?

Melinda Miller — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:51:29 +0000

Walk outside on a cold winter day just after the first big snowfall and you can hear the hush in the air. Everything sounds different because that hush in the air is the snow absorbing sound. Now, compare that to walking into a gym where the sound...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Student Job Shadows as an Acoustical Engineer

Administrator — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:14:48 +0000

Many high school students have never heard of the “acoustical engineering” field so when local student Jordan Van Buskirk (a Senior at Western Michigan Christian High School) asked his teacher about jobs that have to do with acoustics, it was a...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Acoustical Solutions for Cafetoriums and Gymnatoria

Kenric Van Wyk — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:32:51 +0000

Multi-use school facilities (such as “cafetoriums” – cafeterias that double as auditoriums) are popping up all over Michigan because they save space and save money. But many schools are finding that they are not well-suited to serve multiple...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

ABD to Host 10 Year Anniversary Party

Administrator — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:20:53 +0000

Acoustics By Design, an independent acoustical consulting and audio-visual design firm headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids, will celebrate its 10 year anniversary on October 6, 2011, at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. The invitation only event will...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Training Tips for Church Tech Teams

Tim Hamilton — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:51:35 +0000

I run sound at a local church about once a month. I used to spend time behind a mixing board several times a week, but these days it tends to be more time in front of a computer. Several recent discussions with the Music Director at the church got...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Is It Really Sound Proof? Mixed Use Developments

Tim Koldenhoven — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:25:08 +0000

Mixed use developments need to have the proper noise isolation partitions and the proper expectations for tenants. “I can hear their music and their phone ringing; I can even hear them repeat the order!” This comment came from a frustrated condo...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Corporate Videoconference Guidelines & Recommendations – Part 2

Scott Storteboom — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:11:53 +0000

Good communication can be difficult, especially over long distances. This is why we still get on airplanes and travel to meet face to face. Videoconferencing saves the travel costs, and it still gives us the face to face connection. But here’s the...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Corporate Videoconference Guidelines & Recommendations – Part 1

Scott Storteboom — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:17:18 +0000

Teleconferencing requires hearing the voice, so it should follow that videoconferencing requires seeing the people, right? Not so much. Videoconferencing actually requires a finer level of detail – it requires seeing the eyes. Why? We communicate...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

A Tale of Two Halls

Administrator — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:10:14 +0000

I recently attended concerts at two out-of-state prestigious university level music schools, and from a noise control point of view, the auditoria couldn’t have been more different. While the room acoustics of both halls were superb, the background...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

IPTV –When it Makes Sense & Save Cents

Tim Hamilton — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:42:43 +0000

One of the transitions that we are watching closely in the audio-visual Industry is the evolution of audio and video delivery over networks instead of through dedicated distribution systems. In the consumer world you may have noticed that some TV...

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Toilet Noise Mitigation

Administrator — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:54:25 +0000

The other day at a popular chain restaurant, I dropped by the restroom before a long ride home. I’ve heard some loud toilet flushes in my day, and this one was right up there with the loudest of them. While it caught my attention, it didn’t make me...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

The National Council of Acoustical Consultants & the American Institute of Architects

Tom Thelen — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:06:53 +0000

The National Council of Acoustical Consultants (NCAC) is the only North American organization fully devoted to certifying the credentials of acoustical consultants. Kenric Van Wyk, President of Acoustics By Design, was elected to the NCAC Board of...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Acoustics By Design is Named One of “West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For”

Tom Thelen — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:33:42 +0000

Acoustics By Design was recently honored by the Michigan Business & Professional Association as one of “West Michigan’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.” 2011 marks the fifth consecutive year that ABD has received the award. Being...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/

Quality, Service, and Price – How Acoustical Consultants Stack Up

Tom Thelen — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:56:49 +0000

Recently a client called to say they were trying to make a decision between our acoustical engineering firm and another acoustician for a church project they were working on. The client had received proposals from Acoustics By Design and another...

For full article, visit http://www.acousticsbydesign.com/acoustics-blog/