Educational Facilities

Improving learning outcomes through acoustical quality

We provide the right acoustical environment for educators to be heard when they want to, with adequate privacy for when they don’t.

Acoustics in educational facilities, particularly background noise and reverberation, are important for an effective learning environment. Classrooms must be quiet so that teachers can be heard and students can communicate effectively. Poor acoustics in classrooms is a detriment to learning, behavior, and concentration. Educational facilities often contain other spaces such as offices, auditoria, and gymnasiums where sound isolation, speech privacy, and acoustical quality are also important factors for the building design.

Our Services

Criteria Development

Room Shaping

Wall Treatment Selection

Space Planning and Layout

Structural Designs for Vibration Control

Noise and Vibration Control for Mechanical Systems

Problem Diagnosis

Measurements and Monitoring

Construction Observations

Featured Projects

In addition to our extensive experience with university laboratories and other research facilities, our education project experience includes K through 12 classrooms, higher education facilities, lecture halls, and residence halls. The following are a few examples of our past experience:

Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience

California Institute of Technology

The Chen Neuroscience Research Building is a Gold LEED certified facility that supports vibration and noise sensitive spaces including laboratory spaces and a large lecture hall. The building is three stories tall and includes two basement levels. We provided acoustical input regarding partitions for behavioral suites with stringent STC requirements as well as architectural acoustics support for offices, conference rooms and the lecture hall. Additionally, we provided support for vibration control via the structural and mechanical design for the vivarium and research labs. A site survey was conducted to confirm that the area was not problematic with regards to vibration and noise. Additionally, measurements were taken to verify that the construction of CNRB did not negatively affect nearby sensitive spaces on campus.

award winners, Colleges and Universities, university labs

Stieff Building Materials Characterization & Processing Facility

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company / Johns Hopkins University

The Materials Characterization and Processing core facility is maintained by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The MCP serves the entire Johns Hopkins community, with focus on inorganic characterization and processing. Our vibration surveys for both post-demolition, and post-construction of the lower level labs were consistent with results prior to the start of the project.

engineering labs, university labs, research and development

Optical Metrology Tool Vibration Specification

Photon Dynamics

high performance imaging, advanced technology facilities, manufacturing

Extreme Ultraviolet Lithograph System Sensitivity Study

Sandia National Laboratory

advanced technology facilities

Optical Microscope – Vibration Sensitivity Study

Nikon

biology labs, high performance imaging, clinical labs, manufacturing

Crystal Grower Sensitivity Study

Confidential Client

semiconductor, advanced technology facilities

Prober Equipment Vibration Sensitivity

Tokyo Electron Ltd (TEL)

semiconductor, advanced technology facilities, manufacturing

Surgical Microscope Vibration Control

St. Agnes Medical Center (SAMC), Fresno CA

hospital, clinical imaging, outpatient facilities, surgery

Micro-Positioning Spinstand and Disk Device Manufacturing Equipment

Seagate Technology

advanced technology facilities

Westworld Arenas

Scottsdale, AZ

environmental noise, entertainment

Cell Tower Noise Study

TrussNet USA, Bisbee AZ

environmental noise

Campus-Wide Environmental Noise Study

University of California - Merced

environmental noise

Generator Noise Control

Kaiser Permanente, South San Francisco CA

hospt

environmental noise, hospital

Santa Clara County Crime Lab

San Jose, CA

environmental noise, construction vibration, Forensics Labs, crime labs, government

Campus-Wide Environmental Noise Model

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD

We worked with NIH to develop a comprehensive detailed computer environmental noise model of their entire campus in Bethesda, MD.

environmental noise

Mechanical and Process Equipment Noise and Vibration Control

Multiple Semiconductor Manufacturing Clients

semiconductor, advanced technology facilities

Building Demolition Vibration Monitoring

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Factory Construction Vibration Control and Monitoring

Confidential Semiconductor Manufacturing Clients

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Laboratory Vibration Monitoring

JILA, University of Colorado - Boulder

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration, LEED

Block Lab Construction Vibration Monitoring

Stanford University

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Construction Vibration Mitigation

New York Structural Biology Center

construction vibration

Pile Driving Vibration Measurements

University of California - San Francsico

construction vibration

Pile Driving Vibration Study

Crystal Growing Facility, Portland OR

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Crystal Springs Pipeline #2 Replacement

San Mateo County, CA

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Water Pipeline Replacement

San Jose, CA

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

North Shore to Channel Force Main Improvement

San Francisco CA

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Nitrogen Plant Noise Control

Linde

environmental noise, advanced technology facilities

Machine Shop

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

engineering labs, utility plants

Central Utility Plant Upgrades and Chiller Replacement

NIH, Bethesda MD

environmental noise

New Central Plant

Oklahoma State University

environmental noise

Bechtel Residence

Caltech

Colleges and Universities, Residence Halls and Dormitories

New Trier High School

Winnetka, IL

K through 12

The Phillips Brooks School

Menlo Park, CA

K through 12

Discovery Montessori School

Sacramento, CA

Preschool

Collins Middle School

San Jose, CA

K through 12

Portal Elementary School

Cupertino, CA

K through 12

Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute

University of South Florida

biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, clinical research, Colleges and Universities, teaching labs, university labs

Aztec Recreation Center

San Diego State University

Colleges and Universities

Manzanita Hall

Stanford University

Colleges and Universities

Wellness Center

University of Colorado

Colleges and Universities

University of Wisconsin Hospital

Madison

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration, hospital

Thomason General Hospital

El Paso, TX

hospital, clinical imaging

Joint Health Sciences Center

Rowan University Rutgers-Camden

research and development, vivarium, biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, clinical research, teaching labs, university labs

Knight Cancer Research Building

Oregon Health Sciences University

biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, clinical research, university labs, research and development

Falk Center

Stanford University Medical Center

hospital, clinical research, clinical imaging, surgery, university labs, research and development

MRI and PET Imaging Suite

University of Louisville Health Science Center

hospital, clinical research, clinical imaging, university labs

NeuroImaging Center

Las Palmas Medical Center, El Paso

hospital, clinical imaging

The Children’s Hospital

Denver, CO

hospital

Imagenetics Facility

Sanford Health

hospital

Arizona Cancer Center

University of Arizona

biology labs, biomedical facilities, hospital, clinical research, outpatient facilities, surgery, university labs

Outpatient Diagnostic & Treatment Center (ODTC) and Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

clinical research, outpatient facilities

Tower II

Scripps Memorial Hospital

hospital, clinical research

Student Success and Access Center

California State University - Long Beach

A renovation of the existing Peterson Hall 2, the center is dedicated to increasing services for CSULB’s tens of thousands of students. The facility serves as the new Bob Murphy Access Center, formerly known as Disabled Student Services. The Student Success Center also houses programs such as BUILD, which supports undergraduate research in the health sciences, and the Women’s Gender & Equity Center.

acoustic design, architectural acoustics

William Eckhardt Research Center

University of Chicago

This multifaceted research center is home to the Institute for Molecular Engineering, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, the Dean’s Office of Physical Sciences, and the Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility.

nanotechnology, high performance imaging, cleanroom

G.G. Brown Laboratories Addition

University of Michigan

This new facility houses The Center of Excellence in Nano Mechanical Science and Engineering, and includes a state-of-the-art Ultra-Low Vibration Facility. The unique and innovative vibration and noise control design for the ULV facility resulted in some of the lowest vibration amplitudes we've ever measured.

nanotechnology, engineering labs, university labs

Central Energy Facility

Stanford University

Place a large new power plant on the Stanford University campus, next to the golf course, in proximity to Stanford Hospital, other campus buildings, and nearby residences – and remain a good neighbor.

environmental noise

Crime Lab Facility

City of Denver Police Department

noise and vibration monitoring, Forensics Labs, crime labs, government

Audio and Video Device Research and Development Lab

Confidential Client - Bay Area, CA

high performance imaging, prototyping labs, failure analysis

Engineering Innovation Building

University of Illinois - Chicago

engineering labs, high bay, chemistry, materials science, structural testing, university labs

Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division Facility

City of San Francisco

noise and vibration monitoring, Forensics Labs, crime labs, government

Institutes for BioMedical Research – R&D Campus

Novartis Shanghai

vivarium, biology labs, biomedical facilities, pharmaceutical research and development, cleanroom, parking garage

Li Ka-Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences

University of California - Berkeley

biomedical facilities, clinical research, clinical imaging, university labs, vivarium, biology labs, LEED

Marcus Nanotechnology

Georgia Tech

nanotechnology, noise and vibration monitoring, engineering labs, high performance imaging, cleanroom, renovation and tenant improvement

Animal Health Diagnostic Center

Cornell University

LEED, biomedical facilities, university labs, vivarium, biology labs, engineering labs

Duffield Hall

Cornell University

nanotechnology, noise and vibration monitoring, engineering labs, high performance imaging, cleanroom, university labs

BioDesign Institute

Arizona State University

LEED, biomedical facilities, high bay, clinical imaging, cleanroom, university labs, vivarium, biology labs, engineering labs

Cardiff Innovation System Campus (CISC)

Cardiff University, Wales

nanotechnology, engineering labs, cleanroom noise, transportation vibration, university labs, research and development

Kavli Nanotechnology Institute

Caltech

nanotechnology, biology labs, engineering labs, high performance imaging, cleanroom, renovation and tenant improvement

Chen Neuroscience Research Building (CNRB)

Caltech

vivarium, biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, university labs, research and development

Alkek Hospital Expansion – Construction Noise and Vibration Control

M.D. Anderson, Houston TX

Construction vibration and noise control for a 12-story expansion atop an operating 12-story hospital.

noise and vibration monitoring, construction vibration

Transgenic Mouse Facility

Baylor College of Medicine

vivarium, biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, clinical research, research and development

Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building (ISTB) 7

Arizona State University

biology labs, engineering labs, biomedical facilities, university labs

Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha

The Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center includes a 10-story, 98-laboratory research tower, a seven-story, 108-bed inpatient treatment center, and a multi-disciplinary treatment center.

vivarium, biology labs, hospital, clinical imaging, surgery

Biodesign C

Arizona State University

A five-story, 189,759 SF, LEED Platinum research facility located next to an active light rail track and a busy highway containing a mixture of laboratory types: high bay spaces, multi level generic laboratories, and a Compact X-Ray Light Source facility.

biology labs, engineering labs, high bay, university labs

Parking Structure 6

City of Santa Monica

This award winning parking structure included a high-end retail space, which could not tolerate significant vibration from cars driving next door and overhead.

parking structures