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.
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.
Acoustics By Design Adds Senior AV Consultant In Portland
Erik J Geiger, CTS-D has joined Acoustics By Design in their Portland, OR office as Senior Audiovisual Consultant.
Sub-contracting AV to Electrical
When a construction project is underway, who is the best entity to hold the AV contract? Architects design buildings, and construction companies build them. That seems simple enough. While those are the cornerstones of a project, there can be dozens of other companies involved.
3 Fiber Myths in AV
Why aren’t more AV projects using fiber communications? Are we just afraid of getting cut by the leading edge of technology, or are there legitimate reasons? Maybe there are just some myths out there that keep us from shifting from copper wire to fiber.