Ryan Knox discussing system tuning with Mark and John from Gardendale FBC.

Vance Breshears slips away from the office every Tuesday afternoon.  No, it’s not for a game of golf but rather to teach acoustics at the Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego.  As an adjunct professor, Vance educates students on the fundamentals of architectural acoustics. Topics covered include sound theory and hearing, room acoustics, sound isolation, mechanical noise control, environmental noise and auditorium design.

This last semester, Vance took the students to a recently completed AD project on the award-winning Francis Parker School Campus. The new space, J. Crivello Hall, is a beautifully designed 250 seat auditorium by Lake|Flato Architects.  Acoustic Dimensions designed both the acoustics and technical systems for the space. Students from NASD participated in a hands-on demonstration taking acoustical measurements, listening to speech and music and discussing how the principles taught in class apply to the space.

Work on the interior of our new offices across the street is underway and we hear that we may be only 8 weeks away from moving in!  Carpet samples, trips to Ikea, drawing storage ideas and daily punch lists are adding to the excitement and anticipation. 

One might think with all of our years in design & construction we’d be the absolute perfect client, we wonder if our contractor agrees…

David Kahn and Indi Savitala will be attending the Concert Hall Research Group (CHRG)Summer Institute in Santa Fe, NM. David will be making a  presentation on the acoustical design of concert halls with small seating capacities. The presentation will cover Acoustic Dimensions’ work on concert halls at Illinois State University , Kennesaw State University, Texas A & M, and Seattle Pacific University. Comparisons will be made to other large and small concert halls with similar stage platform areas, to show how Acoustic Dimensions achieves the same acoustical design goals, but with a smaller seating capacity.

The CHRG is held every three years across the United States. This year marks the fourth CHRG summer institute. It runs from Sunday, July 25 to Thursday, July 29.

AD’s Dallas office is meeting today to talk about social networking and virtual teaming.  In fact, we took this photo live and used it for the demonstration.

David Kahn has been collaborating with Ed Palushock at Miller Hull Architects on the design of the New University Center at Seattle Pacific University, which includes a concert hall with world class acoustics, for two years now.  David shared with Ed his passion for skiing, which Ed includes as part of his passion for climbing.  David expanded his skiing horizons by joining Ed on a weekend hike up Mount Saint Helens, followed by a much shorter ski trip down the mountain, prior to design team meetings the following Monday.  While David struggled to keep up with Ed on the long trek up the mountain, he held his own on the ski run back down.

Today is the 10^th anniversary for Jeff Miller – senior consultant in the San Diego office.  To celebrate the occasion our team enjoyed ice cream sundaes and reminisced about just how fast 10 years can really go!

Thank you Jeff for your 10 years of dedication and hard work !

AD is working with Rossetti on the Notre Dame Ice Arena.  Today, Jason McKelvey and Ben Cating are focused on designing the a/v systems for the suites.   

Our Dallas office’s KABOOMTOWN fireworks watching event this year was a little rainy - But that didn’t stop the fun!  We always make sure to bring the camera and we particularly enjoyed this image of Andrew Mitchell and his family (and that he thought to bring noise canceling headphones for his son).

PPL Park opened this week. 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium is the new home of the Philadelphia Union expansion team and the expansion franchise of Women’s Professional Soccer. The stadium, situated along the Delaware River, is the centerpiece of a future large economic development with plans calling for a riverwalk, entertainment, retail and residential projects.

40-50 annual events are expected to be held on the natural grass pitch of PPL Park with a built-in concert stage, one main event/concourse level, a suite/club level, and a press level. Other key items include 30 luxury suites, a 2,000 person supporters club section, a full service club restaurant, press support, back of house and concert accommodations.

Architect: Rossetti Architects

AD Scope: Acoustics, Audio, Video, Broadcast, Security Systems, Telecommunications