Sounding Off: Our Blog
Thoughts, insights, and perspectives on the latest news, trends, and issues regarding architectural acoustics, environmental and industrial noise and vibration, and audiovisual systems design.
What Do Acoustical Consultants Actually Do?
As an acoustical consultant, I often have trouble answering the “what do you do?” question. The basic answer is quite easy, but unless the person asking the question is an architect, performing artist, or involved in music, they often don’t have a clue what the job entails. I run into this just about anytime I meet and get to know someone new. People genuinely want to know and understand what I do for a living but sometimes I’ve had a hard time communicating my trade. So what exactly does an acoustical consultant do, anyway?
How Does Acoustical Absorption Work?
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 bounces around and lingers in the room.
Absorbing Vs. Blocking Sound
When sound transfers from one space to another, what’s the most effective treatment? Does fiberglass insulation stop sound? Advice from professional acoustical consultants on the dos and don’t of sound absorption versus noise isolation.
New Name – ABD Engineering & Design
ABD Engineering & Design is here!
The name “Acoustics By Design” has served us well for over 15 years, and now the time has come to turn that page to ABD Engineering & Design. Our new name draws focus to our practice areas: Architectural Acoustics, Audiovisual Design, and Environmental and Industrial Noise and Vibration Control. Likewise, we’ve been referred to as ABD for years, now it’s official. While our name has changed, our commitment to serving our clients with acoustical engineering and audiovisual design has not.
Woman Owned Business
ABD Engineering & Design is a nationally certified Women’s Business Enterprise as well as a Woman Owned Small Business. ABD is an independent acoustical engineering and audiovisual design firm with three women in our leadership team, one of which is the sole owner. We are honored to be among other women owned businesses, and proud to serve our clients with this certification.
The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics
Open office spaces with movable partitions and reconfigurable workstations have become more than a trend in office facility design. They are the new normal. As acoustical consultants, we work on open office spaces frequently, and we like to begin the conversation with something we call “The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics.”
How Does Sound Masking Work?
Have you ever increased the volume of your music or television program to “drown out” your noisy neighbors? Or have you noticed how difficult it is to hear a conversation while eating in a busy restaurant? In both situations, sound from the “masker” (your music/television, people talking in the restaurant) is changing the threshold at which the “signal” (noisy neighbors, conversation) is perceptible. In other words, some sounds are masking – or covering over – the other sounds.
Eleven in a Row
For the eleventh year in a row, Acoustics By Design has been named to the West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®. We take pride in this award because it’s based on the information our staff provides in their annual survey, and reflects the exceptional work we all do together.
New Principal Acoustical Engineer
Acoustics By Design is delighted to announce the naming of Melinda Miller, PE, LEED AP BD+C, EDAC, INCE. Bd.Cert., as ABD’s Principal Acoustical Engineer.
101 Best and Brightest Most Sustainable 2016
Acoustics By Design received the National and Michigan awards for the 101 Best and Brightest Most Sustainable Companies in 2016. ABD has won the awards every year they have been offered.