Reflections Year in Review
2021
On the cover Harvard University, Science and Engineering Complex, Allston, MA ARCHITECT: Behnisch Architekten, LLP | Cover photo: © Brad Feinknopf/OTTO | 3DL® model (this page) © Acentech
2021 in Review
2021 — what a year! Wait, that is what I said last year. (I feel like we are all living in the movie “Groundhog Day” — a fun form of entertainment, but not so much a lifestyle.) In 2021 we continued largely in WFH mode, as did many of our clients and partners. But we also started to get a little more back to normal with field visits and the occasional industry event. We even had an in-person parking lot event to celebrate our 30th anniversary as an employeeowned company. I am pleased to report that Acentech staff is 100% vaccinated, which speaks to the concern and respect my colleagues have for each other. Many of us have people in our orbit who cannot be vaccinated, and I am proud that my fellow colleagues did their part to lessen the risk to others. Despite the pandemic, the world goes on. And in 2021 we had the opportunity to work on some wonderful projects, a few of which are shown in this year’s edition of Reflections. We think the stunning photography captures the essence of these highly rewarding projects. On a corporate level, we continue to grow and we added some remarkable new staff this year — more about them in the pages that follow. Acentech is larger (and stronger!) than ever. We updated our corporate strategic plan, which will guide our direction over the next few years. We also refreshed our website, too — if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look at www.acentech.com, and let us know what you think. While the work, the projects and our clients are wonderful, I am truly grateful for our staff. 2021 has been a challenge, but we have all banded together to make it through. But, enough is enough. I think I speak for all of my colleagues when I say I can’t wait to get back to normal. Let’s hope I can say that in next year’s edition of Reflections.
Jeffrey A. Zapfe, PhD President
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LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT Kate Brannelly, FSMPS, CPSM Please join us in welcoming Kate Brannelly, FSMPS, CPSM, Acentech’s new Strategic Marketing Officer. Taking on an integral role on the executive leadership team, Kate is responsible for the leadership, development and implementation management of Acentech’s marketing strategy and growth initiatives.
Accomplishments Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) - Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) - Fellow, Elected 2001 American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, Associate Member; Marketing Committee, Member Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), Member Dedham Historical Society & Museum, Board Member
As an AEC industry marketing leader, Kate has 30 years of marketing leadership experience in strategic planning, client development, and brand positioning with several regional and global multidiscipline, architectural design, and consulting engineering firms in Boston and Chicago. She brings a natural team building approach to collaborative mentoring of technical consultants to enhance and leverage their success in all aspects of business development and expert branding across key A/E market sectors and the construction industry. She has received several awards for her marketing leadership and branding concepts from SMPS, and has served the organization at the Chapter and National level in numerous leadership and committee roles throughout her career.
Corey Salvatore, CTS Acentech is pleased to announce Corey Salvatore, CTS, Principal Consultant has been promoted to Director of Acentech’s Technology Group. Corey is responsible for business strategy, client development, consultant management and group operations.
Accomplishments AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA), Member Audio Engineering Society (AES), Member Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA), Member Synergetic Audio Concepts (SynAudCon), Member Acentech Board Member, 2018-present
Corey has held progressive consulting roles during his 22-year career at Acentech, proving himself a versatile Audiovisual System and Telecommunications consultant. He excels at design, client collaboration, technical innovation and project delivery within our Technology Group, which includes audiovisual, telecommunications and electronic security system design services. His leadership has contributed to evolution of the Technology Group becoming a major part of Acentech’s multidiscipline acoustics and technology consulting practice, and has well positioned us to expand into emerging markets.
Stacey Micka, SCP Acentech is pleased to welcome Stacey Micka, our new Director of Human Resources.
Accomplishments Society for Human Resources Management, Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
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Stacey brings a strategic focus in employee relations, talent recruitment, and professional development to support Acentech’s collegial culture and workplace diversity. As Director of Human Resources, she is responsible for the execution of our human resources operations, talent management, and EDI initiatives. Stacey is a trusted human resources leader with over 20 years of experience in employee engagement, recruitment, benefits and compensation planning, and organizational management at several global and national technology manufacturers and start-up companies based in Massachusetts.
CELEBRATING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY
Below is an excerpt from our blog, published in October 2021. To read the full text, please click here. This week Acentech is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its independence from Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) and I recently had the honor of interviewing the three primary founders — Carl Rosenberg, Eric Wood and Tom Horrall, along with Jeffrey Zapfe, Acentech’s President; Ben Markham, Director of Architectural Acoustics; and Kate Brannelly, the firm’s Strategic Marketing Officer.
...
Q: Where are we now, as a company, with such a unique culture and history? Ben: In terms of trajectory, we now (and in perpetuity) benefit from this legacy. There were decisions made at the time of the transition from BBN that Acentech still benefits from. A lot of those are cultural.
Kate: One of the things that always impressed me is the mentoring of consultants within Acentech. The leadership fosters a highly collaborative practice of openness, respect and team building to develop and support each consultant. It’s one of the things that makes the firm so unique.
Ben: A good team has complementary skills. We have always looked for people with diverse backgrounds – architecture, mechanical or electrical engineering, or a physics or music background. Our people look at things from different angles. This dovetails with our ongoing Equity Diversity and Inclusion efforts. Acentech has always encouraged people to innovate and to explore their passions within a supportive framework is still alive and well, and something we are leaning into even more.
For example, this notion of ownership transition that was baked into
Jeff: Our culture is very important. It is a culture of collegiality,
the model from the beginning. There are many companies out there
sharing and mentoring. I think it was Leo Beranek who said ‘every
that really struggle with ownership transition. We’ve wrestled with
new hire should raise the average IQ of the company’. I am proud
those questions, but it’s been made easier thanks to those decisions
to work with a group of very smart and very capable colleagues.
made earlier on, the longevity of the founders’ leadership, and the
The culture, the types of things we work on and the generally
employee-owned company ethos. Acentech is now an ESOP, so
interesting things we do keeps people at the company for a
employee ownership is even broader now than it was then. There are
long time. And we really value innovation, we encourage it and
other things that we could talk about that are the same: a focus on
support it.
quality, a client and problem-solving orientation, an innovative spirit — we continue to innovate in many ways including 3DListening®, Remote Monitoring and our soon to launch Innovation Lab.
(continued here)
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ACENTECH NEWS NEW PERSONNEL Colleen Anderson
Proposal Manager (Marketing) Colleen brings over 15 years of AEC marketing and financial experience to the Proposal Manager role at Acentech. She is responsible for the development of our creative, engaging proposals and qualification responses to support the firm’s national business development strategy across its diverse expertise, portfolio and targeted markets. Colleen originally joined Acentech in 2006 and worked for the firm for ten years. We are very pleased to have her back!
Joe Barra
Consultant (Technology) Joe recently joined Acentech as an audiovisual and sound systems designer. He is involved with a variety of commercial, higher education, and institutional facilities projects. His main areas of focus include technology system designs, preparation of plans and detailed drawings, documentation of bid packages, and performing system acceptance testing. Joe’s software skills include programming in MatLab and C++; Revit; AutoCAD, and sound recording. Joe earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Miami in 2018.
Kirsten Hull
Consultant (Acoustics) Kirsten is a new member of our Architectural Acoustics Group, with over five years of experience in project management and acoustical planning for educational facilities at all levels, community performing arts centers and museums. Kirsten works with project teams to establish program needs initial acoustic parameters. Her architectural training enables her to foster a clear dialogue with clients throughout the design process. She earned her B. Arch degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and is a recipient of a Robert B. Newman Award for Merit in Architectural Acoustics in 2016.
Will Spallino
Consultant (Noise + Vibration) Will brings his acoustics research and technology experience to our Noise and Vibration Group. He performs field measurements and carries out analyses of sound and vibration issues—and their proposed solutions—with a focus on educational facilities and large-scale projects. Will earned his B. A. in Music and B.S. Eng. in Engineering Physics from Case Western Reserve University, and a M.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Will’s software and modeling toolbox includes EASERA, ODEON, and MATLAB.
James Wiggins
Consultant (Noise + Vibration) James is a new member of our Noise and Vibration Group. He performs field measurements and carries out analyses of sound and vibration issues, and the development of mitigation solutions. James’s software and modeling toolbox includes MATLAB, Java, SolidWorks, Autodesk, Powermill and more. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama in 2021, and studied at Chiba University in Japan for a semester abroad.
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PROMOTIONS Matthew Azevedo
Mery Meas
Matthew brings over 20 years of professional consulting experience to his new role. Matt’s expertise lies in acoustical modeling and development of Acentech’s 3DListening® auralization technology.
As a Senior Project Accountant, Mery will be taking on a more active role helping project managers with contract management, as well as assuming more duties in the accounting department.
Jack Briskie, PE
James Moore, PhD
Jack has over 8 years of acoustics consulting experience, including environmental, mechanical, and industrial noise and vibration assessment and mitigation, as well as structural dynamics evaluations.
Jim has over 40 years of experience characterizing vibration and noise transmission, both experimentally and analytically, in ships, automobiles, helicopters and buildings. He has also designed noise mitigation recommendations for our Product Sound group.
Jonathan Goodrich
Alex Roehl
Jonathan creates social media content for our national marketing campaigns, keeps our new website updated, and is also responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting website and social media performance.
Alex consults on a wide variety of projects including institutional, commercial and residential facilities. His areas of focus include room shaping, sound isolation, and mechanical systems noise and vibration control.
Joseph Horesco, INCE BD. Cert.
Colin Worrich, EIT
Joe has over 20 years of acoustics consulting experience. As a Principal Consultant, he will continue to lead projects, and will build and expand client relations in our Mid-Atlantic office.
Colin collaborates on a wide variety of project types, from performing arts spaces, educational and institutional buildings, to commercial and residential facilities. He specializes in architectural acoustics, mechanical systems noise and vibration control, and environmental acoustics.
Brian Masiello, CTS
Bill Yoder
Brian Masiello has over 20 years of experience on projects ranging from broadcast studios, auditoria, gymnasia, classrooms, lecture halls, houses of worship, and performing arts centers. He will manage project teams and grow our Technology markets.
Bill develops architectural acoustics and environmental noise solutions, and designs hardware and software solutions for the purposes of long term, unmanned remote monitoring of acoustic and vibration signals, including implementation of real-time alarms and streaming data.
Senior Staff Scientist (Acoustics)
Senior Consultant (Noise + Vibration)
Digital Marketing Specialist (Marketing)
Principal Consultant (Acoustics)
Principal Consultant (Technology)
Senior Project Accountant (Accounting)
Principal Scientist (Noise + Vibration)
Senior Consultant (Acoustics)
Senior Consultant (Acoustics)
Principal Scientist (Acoustics, Noise + Vibration)
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ACENTECH NEWS Our New Website is launched!
Delivering on our Brand was the goal of our website refresh in 2021. Our Marketing Group and Leadership Team partnered with Clockwork, an AEC industry website consultant, to strategize, develop and create a custom, branded website where the content and Acentech’s marketing and business goals, drove the design. Launched in November 2021, the website is impressively designed to clearly express our brand, improve the visitor experience, and built with best practices in functionality, flexible, and site management ease.
INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRY AWARD Tyler Tracy Consultant
Tyler earned a 2021 Science Communication Award at the Acoustical Society of America’s 181st Meeting in Seattle, Washington. The award recognizes his article in Acentech‘s blog on Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) and Public Safety. Tyler’s blog was also recently cited in Men’s Health, Esquire, Popular Mechanics and MSN articles on the dangers of LRAD technology.
FIRM INDUSTRY AWARD The Architect’s Newspaper Best of Practice Award In June 2021, Acentech was selected as the Best Acoustics Consultant/ Engineering firm in the Northeast by The Architect’s Newspaper.
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Rebranding our services Acentech implemented a re-branding effort of the Systems Group practice as part of our strategic marketing efforts, search engine optimization (SEO) analysis, and client feedback interviews to re-generate brand awareness of our technology services in Audiovisual Systems, Telecommunications, and Security System Design. The new Technology Group re-brand resulted in a redesign of our brand logo and content messaging across all our marketing collateral. It was launched in the Fall of 2021.
Mid-Atlantic Office Move NEW ADDRESS 620 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 210 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 T 215 245 8244
Acentech’s Mid-Atlantic office moved to Plymouth Meeting, PA to expand and strengthen it office presence and proximity to downtown Philadelphia. The Mid-Atlantic office is one of Acentech’s five strategic locations serving clients and projects throughout the region (States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware, and Washington, D.C.) The new office location opened on December 15, 2021.
LA Office News We recently completed the Mingei International Museum in San Diego (with design firm Luce et Studio). The revitalized museum has already been featured in The New York Times and Architectural Record. Our LA office provided acoustics and noise control consulting for the project, including the multi-purpose theater, galleries, café, gift shop and administrative spaces.
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS Harvard University Science and Engineering Complex Allston, MA The new Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) at Harvard University’s expanding Allston campus is a 544,000 SF, multiuse facility that was designed to accommodate the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and to encourage crossdisciplinary research in a variety of fields including computer science, data science, electrical and mechanical engineering, and materials science. The highly-efficient building, which is LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge certified, features three separate wings, linked by interstitial, multi-story atria. Acentech joined Behnisch Architekten’s team during the schematic design phase, providing acoustics and vibration consulting. Our scope of work included establishing acoustical criteria for all occupied spaces, from classrooms of various sizes, to labs, maker spaces, meeting rooms and the multistory atria, and advising the team on ways to meet these criteria. We also created a digital 3DListening® model that enabled the architects and Harvard stakeholders to hear the expected acoustical conditions in critical spaces while the project was still in design. We overcame the acoustical challenges, particularly those presented by the geometry and programming of spaces near the atria, and helped guide the design team to achieve optimal sound conditions for different occupant scenarios, allowing the team to make responsive and cost-effective decisions prior to the start of construction. Our vibration experts reviewed the initial designs, providing guidance on favorable layouts to minimize the risk of vibration disturbances. We recommended mitigation strategies for protecting vibration-sensitive spaces and equipment, including an electron microscope suite and vibration-sensitive lab environments and equipment utilized by SEAS researchers throughout the building’s upper floors. Acentech also advised on approaches to mitigate noise and vibration stemming from HVAC and other mechanical equipment, and provided general advice on foreseeable community noise issues in relation to local noise limits. The SEC is a striking new addition to Harvard’s expanding Allston campus, leading the way in both academic research and architectural sustainability for many years to come.
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Faith and Liberty Discovery Center Philadelphia, PA Acentech provided security and telecommunications consulting for the design of Faith and Liberty Discovery Center, a new, 40,000 sf museum in Philadelphia, PA. Situated in the heart of ‘American’s Most Historic Square Mile’ on Independence Mall, the FLDC opened to the public in 2021 with an enlivened streetscape, new public amenities, wayfinding, and highly interactive experiences for visitors. The museum hired JacobsWyper Architects, an awardwinning Philadelphia design firm, in 2015. JacobsWyper worked closely with the entire consulting team, which included Local Projects, an exhibit and experiential design firm based in New York City (who have won prestigious awards for their interactive design at the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.) Acentech’s Technology Group designed the security system, WiFi network and telecommunications system. The security system includes discrete networked video cameras, card readers and sensors for the access control system. This integrated system is monitored 24x7 and provides peace of mind for the museum staff. The WiFi network is a robust wireless system that provides coverage for interactive exhibits and museum visitors. The integrated telecommunications system is a high-speed 10 Gigabit system connecting all communications devices in the museum with the appropriate building systems and service providers. Our team collaborated with the design team from early programming and conceptual design through construction. The new museum’s mission—to encourage exploration of the Bible as an historical and cultural force, and encourage visitors to reflect on its influence on our country’s past, present and future—now comes alive in the new exhibit spaces through the creative use of technology and architectural design.
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PROJECT UPDATES | Science + Research Facilities
MIT Site 4 (Perkins&Will)
Children’s National Research + Innovation Campus (Elkus Manfredi Architects)
IN PROGRESS 66 Galen Street Life Science Campus, Watertown, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects] Boynton Yards Mixed Use Research Development, Cambridge, MA [ZGF Architects LLP] Cambridge Crossing Q2 Research Building, Somerville, MA [SGA]
Arranta Bio (TRIA)Science Center (Payette) Amherst College,
Landmark Center Phase 3 Lab Fit-Out, Boston, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects]
RECENTLY COMPLETED
Saddleback College, Advanced Technology + Applied Sciences Building, Mission Viejo, CA [Harley Ellis Devereaux]
Abiomed Headquarters Renovation, Danvers, MA [Stantec]
Takeda Cell Therapy Expansion, Lexington, MA [Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.] University of Connecticut, Gant Science Complex, Storrs, CT [Goody Clancy and Mitchell Guirgola] UMass Medical School, New Research Building, Worcester, MA [Architectural Resources Cambridge] University of New Hampshire, Biological Sciences Building, Durham, NH [Ellenzweig]
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Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Westborough, MA [Perkins&Will] Dana Farber Cancer Institute Lifetime Center, Newton, MA [Payette Associates] MIT Site 4, Cambridge, MA [NADAAA with Perkins&Will] Moderna Research Lab Fitout, Norwood, MA [DPS Group Global]
PROJECT UPDATES | Healthcare
University of Texas Southwestern Brain + Cancer Center (EYP)
Be Well Orange Campus (Boulder Associates, Architects)
RECENTLY COMPLETED Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center New Inpatient Building, Boston, MA [Payette]
Children’sCollege, HospitalScience of Philadelphia King of Prussia (Ballinger) Amherst Center (Payette)
IN PROGRESS DELETE? Albert Einstein Learning and Research Center, São Paulo, Brazil [Safdie Architects with Perkins&Will] Boston Children’s Hospital, Outpatient Building, Needham, MA [Payette] Mass General Brigham, Ambulatory Care, Westwood, MA [Cannon Design] University of Texas Southwestern, Brain + Cancer Center, Dallas, TX [EYP Architecture & Engineering]
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Vibration Study, Nashua, NH [H.P. Cummings Construction Co.] Boston Children’s Hospital, Brookline Place, Brookline, MA [Steffian Bradley Architects] Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Philadelphia, PA [Ballinger with Pelli Clarke Pelli] Dana Farber Cancer Institute North Project, Methuen, MA [SmithGroup JJR] Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME [Perkins&Will] UCSD Adventist Health, Hillcrest Campus Phase 1, San Diego, CA [SmithGroup]
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PROJECT UPDATES | Studio A | Performing + Visual Arts
New England College Putnam Performing Arts Center (Dewing Schmid Kearns)
Lancaster Country Day Gardner Theatre (Centerbrook with Murray Assoc.)
IN PROGRESS 317 Main/Yarmouth Music Center, Yarmouth, ME [Paul Designs Project] Cambridge Foundry Theater, Cambridge, MA [Cambridge Seven Associates] Caroga Lake Performance Hall, Caroga, NY [Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson]
Fessenden School Center for the Arts (CBT Architects)
Ogunquit Playhouse Master Plan, Ogunquit, ME [Epstein Joslin Architects]
RECENTLY COMPLETED
Martha’s Vineyard Tabernacle Restoration, Oak Bluffs, MA [DBVW Architects]
Berklee College of Music, Performing Arts Center Study, Boston, MA [Wilson Butler Architects]
Nashua Performing Arts Center, Nashua, NH [ICON Architecture]
Lancaster Country Day School, Gardner Theatre, Lancaster, PA [Centerbrook with Murray Associates]
Peddie School, Arts Center Expansion, Hightstown, NJ [Architectural Resources Cambridge]
Mosesian Center for the Arts Renovation, Watertown, MA [Sasaki Associates]
University of the Virgin Islands, Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas, USVI [Paul Lukez Architecture with NextStage Design]
Swarthmore College, Lang Music Building, Swarthmore, PA [JacobsWyper Architects] Warner Theatre Renovation, Erie, PA [Coffee Group Architecture]
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PROJECT UPDATES | Museums + Cultural Institutions
The Possible Project (Utile, Inc.)
Mingei International Museum (Luce et Studio)
RECENTLY COMPLETED Crystal Bridges Museum Expansion (Safdie Architects)
Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA [Samuel Anderson Architects]
IN PROGRESS
Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Acoustics Study, Philadelphia, PA [Athenaeum of Philadelphia]
Boston Public Library, Faneuil Branch Renovation, Brighton, MA [Oudens Ello Architecture]
Boston Public Library, Adams Street Branch, Dorchester, MA [NADAAA]
Bowdoin College, Arctic Museum, Brunswick, ME [HGA]
Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine, Portland, ME [Bruner/Cott Architects]
Coolidge Corner Theater Addition, Brookline, MA [Höweler + Yoon] Crystal Bridges Museum Expansion, Bentonville, AR [Safdie Architects] National Coast Guard Museum, New London, CT [Payette]
Faith & Liberty Discovery Center, Philadelphia, PA [JacobsWyper Architects] Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA [Luce et Studio]
New Canaan Public Library, New Canaan, CT [Centerbrook Architects & Planners]
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PROJECT UPDATES | Higher Education
Harvard Divinity School, Swartz Hall (Ann Beha Architects)
Boston University, Center for Computing and Data Sciences (KPMB Architects)
IN PROGRESS Case Western Reserve University, South Residence Village, Cleveland, OH [William Rawn Associates, Architects] Cornell University Computing and Information Science Building, Ithaca, NY [Leers Weinzapfel Associates] Marymount Manhattan College, Center for Visual Arts, New York, NY [Dewing Schmid Kearns Architects + Planners]
Loyola Marymount University, Palm N/S Residence Halls (Steinberg Hart)
Moore College of Art & Design, Studio and Classroom Building, Philadelphia, PA [JacobsWyper Architects]
RECENTLY COMPLETED
MIT, Campus Police Headquarters, Cambridge, MA [S/L/A/M Collaborative]
Dartmouth College, Center for Engineering and Computer Science, Hanover, NH [HGA]
Saddleback College, Science and Math Building, Mission Viejo, CA [HGA]
Lafayette College, Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Easton, PA [Payette]
UMass Medical Research Building, Worcester, MA [Architectural Resources Cambridge] University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI [Ellenzweig] Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management, Nashville, TN [William Rawn Associates, Architects]
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Lehigh University, New Residential Houses, Bethlehem, PA [Sasaki Associates] Virginia Commonwealth University, Engineering Research Building, Richmond, VA [Baskervill] Yale University Center for the Humanities, New Haven, CT [Ann Beha Architects]
PROJECT UPDATES | K-12 Schools
Stoneham High School (Perkins&Will)
Creative Minds International Public Charter School (Newman Architects)
RECENTLY COMPLETED Waltham High School (SMMA)
IN PROGRESS Driscoll Elementary School, Brookline, MA [Jonathan Levi Architects]
Belmont Middle/High School, Belmont, MA [Perkins&Will] Choate Rosemary Hall, New Admissions Center, Wallingford, CT [Perkins Eastman] Coburn Elementary School, West Springfield, MA [TSKP Studio]
Greenwich Country Day School, Upper School, Greenwich, CT [Centerbrook Architects & Planners]
Esperanza Academy, Black Box Theatre, Philadelphia, PA [PZS Architects]
Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, CA [LPA Architects]
Fuller Middle School, Framingham, MA [Jonathan Levi Architects]
Lawrenceville School, Dining/Athletics Complex, Lawrenceville, NJ [Sasaki Associates]
Hawthorne High School, Nyman Hall Black Box Theater, Hawthorne, CA [WLC Architects]
Peddie School, New Arts Center, Hightstown, NJ [Architectural Resources Cambridge]
Phillips Exeter Academy, Library Renovation, Exeter, NH [Ann Beha Architects]
Poolesville Magnet School, Poolesville, MD [VMDO Architects]
Somerville High School, Somerville, MA [SMMA]
Tyngsborough Middle School, Tyngsborough, MA [JCJ Architecture]
Wahconah High School, Dalton, MA [Drummey Rosane Anderson]
Waltham High School, Waltham, MA [SMMA]
Wheeler Elementary School, Plainville, CT [Kaestle Boos Associates]
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PROJECT UPDATES | Corporate Commercial
Autodesk Boston (Utile, Inc.)
National Landing (NBBJ with ZGF Architects)
IN PROGRESS 60 First Street Office/Lab Building, Cambridge, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects] Abiomed TV Studio, Danvers, MA [ci Design] Analog Devices Video Studio, Wilmington, MA [Baker Design Group] Confidential Client, Innovation Hub, New Albany, OH [Utile] Cambridge Crossing, Parcel Q2 Offices, Cambridge, MA [ZGF Architects] Bulfinch Crossing and One Congress Street, Boston, MA [Pelli Clarke Pelli with CBT Architects] Johnson & Johnson HQ Master Plan, New Brunswick, NJ [Ballinger] National Landing Complex, Arlington, VA [NBBJ] PTC Broadcast Studio, Boston, MA [Margulies Perruzzi Architects] Seaport Parcel D Offices, Boston, MA [Jacobs]
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Analog Devices (Baker Design Group)
RECENTLY COMPLETED AmeriHealth Headquarters, Newtown Square, PA [AmeriHealth] Mathworks Lakeside Campus, Natick MA [Gensler] OrangeTheory Fitness, Chesapeake, VA [OrangeTheory Fitness] New Balance Sports Complex, Vibration Mitigation, Allston, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects] Ticketmaster Office HQ, West Hollywood, CA [Watchdog Real Estate Project Managers]
PROJECT UPDATES | Residential + Mixed Use
One Congress at Bulfinch Crossing (Pelli Clarke & Partners with CBT Architects)
Long Wharf Custom House (Stantec)
RECENTLY COMPLETED Brookhaven at Lexington, Lexington, MA [DiMella Shaffer] Bower/Fenway Center, Boston, MA [The Architectural Team] Echelon Seaport, Mixed Use Development, Boston, MA [Kohn Pedersen Fox with CBT Architects]
50 Prospect Street Development (Höweler + Yoon with bKL Architects)
The Harvey at Hood Park, Charlestown, MA [CBT Architects]
IN PROGRESS
The Hub on Causeway, Mixed Use Development, Boston, MA [Gensler with Stantec and Solomon Cordwell Buenz]
50 Prospect Street, Mixed Use Development, Somerville, MA [Höweler + Yoon with bKL Architecture]
Northpoint, Parcel 1 Residences, Cambridge, MA [CBT Architects]
Fan Pier Parcel E, Boston, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects] Ponce City Market, Phase II, Atlanta, GA [Handel Architects]
Regent Square, Mixed Use Development, Houston, TX [CBT Architects]
Regent Square, Mixed Use Development, Houston, TX [CBT Architects]
North Quincy Station Mixed Use Development, Quincy, MA [ICON Architecture]
Suffolk Downs Life Science Center, Revere, MA [Elkus Manfredi Architects]
Rowes Wharf, Digital Signage, Boston, MA [Gensler]
Worcester Ballpark Mixed Use, Worcester, MA [Cube 3 Studio LLC]
St. Gabriel Monastery Residences, Brighton, MA [BH+A]
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PROJECT UPDATES | Environmental + Transportation
Antrim Wind Energy Sound Monitoring (Antrim Wind Energy LLC)
The Hub on Causeway Mixed Use Development (Gensler)
RECENTLY COMPLETED Adventist Health Hillcrest Hospital, Transit Noise Evaluation, San Diego, CA [SmithGroup] Antrim Wind Project, Post Construction Sound Monitoring, Antrim, NH [Antrim Wind Energy LLC] Bull Run Wind Energy Center, Sound Monitoring, Clinton County, NY [Invenergy, LLC] Campus Point Master Plan, Aircraft Noise Evaluation, San Diego, CA [Alexandria Real Estate]
Brookline High School (William Rawn Associates, Architects)
IN PROGRESS
Cell Signaling Technology, Courtyard Noise Mitigation, Danvers, MA [Richard Burck Associates]
Brookline High School, Rail Vibration Evaluation and Mitigation, Brookline, MA [William Rawn Associates, Architects]
Harvard University’s Engineering & Utilities District Energy Facility, Allston, MA [Leers Weinzapfel Associates]
Guernsey Power Project, Noise Evaluation, Valley Township, OH [Gemma Powers Systems, LLC]
Mass General Brigham, Data Center Blasting Vibration Monitoring, Marlborough, MA [Mass General Brigham]
National Grid, 100 Commercial Street Renovation, Boston, MA [Spagnolo Gisness & Associates]
Southern California Edison 24-Hour Noise Measurements, Various Locations, CA [Southern California Edison Company]
Skyworks Solutions, Sound Study, Woburn, MA [Skyworks Solutions]
United States Naval Academy, Center for Cyber Security Studies Telescope, Annapolis, MD [Thornton Thomasetti]
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University of Minnesota Vibration Testing, Minneapolis, MN [Metro Transit Authority]
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
(Leers Weinzapfel Associates with RMF Engineering)
Harvard University’s Engineering & Utilities District Energy Facility Allston, MA The new 56,000 sf District Energy Facility (DEF) at Harvard’s Engineering & Utilities is a state-of-the-art, cost effective and sustainable utility generation and distribution plant, designed to provide chilled water, hot water and electricity to the expanding Allston campus. Acentech collaborated with the design team, Leers Weinzapfel Associates and RMF Engineering, starting in the schematic design phase. Our noise and vibration experts worked with the designers and stakeholders to determine ‘in-plant’ sound goals and mitigation measures, providing OSHA-compliant environments to workers. We recommended acoustical enclosures and sound attenuators for major equipment, incorporated sound absorption treatments in work areas, and specified acoustical doors and windows where in-plant personnel needed additional quiet areas (such as the control room, conference room and office spaces.) Acentech also provided audiovisual system design consulting for the conference room, including interactive video projection, cameras, loudspeakers, microphones and a control system for videoconferencing.
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Wentworth Institute of Technology, Center for Engineering, Innovation and Sciences (Leers Weinzapfel Associates)
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Woburn Public Library (CBT Architects)
CELEBRATING Recent Project Awards AIA AWARDS - ARCHITECTURE
AIA PHILADELPHIA
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
MERIT AWARD
Northeastern University, Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex [Payette]
University of Maryland Baltimore County, Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building [Ballinger]
REGIONAL AND URBAN DESIGN
THE ARCHITECT’S NEWSPAPER 2021 AN BEST OF DESIGN AWARDS
Northeastern University, Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex [Payette]
AIA/CAE EDUCATION FACILITY DESIGN AWARDS DESIGN EXCELLENCE Tarbut V’Torah School Expansion [LPA, Inc.] MERIT Amherst College, New Science Center [Payette]
AIA MARYLAND JURY CITATION FOR INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE University of Maryland Baltimore County, Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building [Ballinger]
AIA NEW ENGLAND AWARDS
PUBLIC - HONORABLE MENTION Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc ] INFRASTRUCTURE - WINNER Harvard University’s Engineering & Utilities District Energy Facility [Leers Weinzapfel Associates] GREEN BUILDING - WINNER Harvard University, Science and Engineering Complex [Behnisch Architekten] RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE - HONORABLE MENTION MIT Site 4 [NADAAA with Perkins&Will] BUILDING RENOVATION - WINNER TimeOut Market/401 Park Repositioning [Elkus Manfredi Architects]
HONOR AWARDS
BUILDING RENOVATION - HONORABLE MENTION
Billerica Memorial High School [Perkins&Will]
Harvard Divinity School, Swartz Hall [Ann Beha Architects]
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc.]
INSTITUTIONAL/LIBRARIES - HONORABLE MENTION
Elmira-Corning Regional Airport Revitalization [Fennick McCredie]
Boston Public Library, Adams Street Branch [NADAAA]
Harvard University, Science and Engineering Complex [Behnisch Architekten]
INTERIOR/INSTITUTIONAL - WINNER
Woburn Public Library [CBT Architects]
Tecnológico de Monterrey Rectoria Building [Sasaki]
MERIT AWARDS Eastham Public Library [Oudens Ello Architecture]
BOSTON PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
King Open / Cambridge Street Upper Schools & Community Complex [William Rawn Associates, Architects with Arrowstreet]
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc.]
MIT Site 4 [NADAAA with Perkins&Will]
The Overlook (St. Gabriel’s Monastery) [Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype]
Emerson College, The Little Building (Elkus Manfredi Architects]
CITATION AWARD Norwell Public Library [Oudens Ello Architecture]
Acentech Reflections 2021 | 23
CELEBRATING Recent Project Awards BOSTON SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS DESIGN AWARDS
ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD NEW ENGLAND
HONOR AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE
RESIDENTIAL/HOSPITALITY
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc.]
Clippership Wharf [The Architectural Team]
Emerson College, The Little Building (Elkus Manfredi Architects]
RESIDENTIAL/HOSPITALITY
Harvard University’s Engineering & Utilities District Energy Facility [Leers Weinzapfel Associates] MIT Site 4 [NADAAA with Perkins&Will] ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AWARDS Fitchburg City Hall Renovation [ICON Architecture] HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES DESIGN Amherst College, New Science Center [Payette] Bentley University, Multipurpose Arena [ARC / Architectural Resources Cambridge] Middlesex Community College, Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center [Leers Weinzapfel Associates] Wentworth Institute of Technology, Center for Engineering, Innovation and Sciences (Leers Weinzapfel Associates) SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
University of New Haven, Bergami Center for Science, Technology & Innovation [Svigals + Partners]
IIDA NEW ENGLAND DESIGN AWARDS Analysis Group New York [CBT Architects] Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc.] Boston University, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground [NBBJ] Dana Farber Cancer Institute - Chestnut Hill [Payette] King Open / Cambridge Street Upper Schools & Community Complex [William Rawn Associates, Architects with Arrowstreet] MIT Site 4 [NADAAA with Perkins&Will] TimeOut Market/401 Park Repositioning [Elkus Manfredi] Veson Nautical [CBT Architects]
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch [Utile, Inc.]
SCUP/AIA-CAE EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE
Tufts University, Science and Engineering Complex [Payette]
BUILDING ADDITIONS, RENOVATION OR ADAPTIVE REUSE
BUILDING DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION Frost Terrace Affordable Housing [Bruner/Cott Architects] TimeOut Market/401 Park Repositioning [Elkus Manfredi Architects]
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (CMAA) PROJECT OF THE YEAR Dana Farber Cancer Institute - Adult Oncology and Imaging Facility [Payette, Walsh Construction]
ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD
Boston University, Dahod Family Alumni Center at the Castle [Finegold Alexander Architects] NEW BUILDING Lafayette College, Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center [Payette]
WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS BEST OVERALL SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE Harvard University, Science and Engineering Complex [Behnisch Architekten]
ARCHITECTURAL RECORD - PUBLICITY DECEMBER 2021
Mingei International Museum [Luce et Studio] NOVEMBER 2021
MIT Site 4 [NADAAA with Perkins&Will]
GLOBAL BEST PROJECT AWARD: EDUCATION / RESEARCH Harvard University, Science and Engineering Complex [Behnisch Architekten]
24 | Acentech Reflections 2021
ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA PRESS Rooms for the Learned Musician: A 20-year Retrospective on the Acoustics of Music Education Facilities [Editors: Lauren M. Ronsse, PhD; Martin S. Lawless, PhD; Shane J. Kanter; David T. Carreon Bradley, PhD]
Acentech Reflections 2021 | 25
Northeastern University, Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (Payette)
TOP BLOGS FOR 2021
TOP BLOGS for 2021 SOUND IS VIBRATION: BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES AND STRUCTURE-BORNE SOUND [Alex Odom] SUPERBOWL ARTIFICIAL CROWD NOISE [Alex Roehl] ACOUSTIC ENERGY HARVESTING [Joshua Brophy] SOUND ON MARS AND WHAT ELSE NASA CAN DO [Mike Bahtiarian] HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING, AND EMBRACE THE CAULKING GUN [William Chu] NOISE EXPOSURE ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) [Tyler Tracy] EARLY RETENTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF ACOUSTICS CONSULTING PARTICIPATION EARLY IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT [Robert Wolff] ASA SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OR INTERNSHIP IN ACOUSTICS (SURIEA) PROGRAM [Kelsey Rogers/Sandy Kane] THE SOUND OF METAL: UNDERSTANDING COCHLEAR IMPLANTS [Ben Davenny] HEARING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES: FOLIAGE ACOUSTICS AND GREEN NOISE BARRIERS [Alex Odom] COMMERCIAL ACCESS CONTROLS [Jonathan White]
26 | Acentech Reflections 2021
IMAGE CREDITS p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 p6 p 7 p8 p9 p 10 p 11 p 12 p 13 p 14 p 15 p 16 p 17 p 18 p 19 p 20
Brad Feinknopf-OTTO Acentech 3DL rendering Robyn Ivy Cindy Loo, Emily O’Brien Acentech Staff Cindy Loo, Acentech Staff Cindy Loo, Emily O’Brien Anton Grassl, Emily O’Brien Adobe Stock, Paul Rivera Brad Feinknopf, Acentech 3DL rendering Local Projects Halkin Mason, John Horner, Seven Roads Media EYP, Caleb Tkach, Ballinger Höweler+Yoon, Anton Grassl, CBT Architects Utile, Paul Rivera, Safdie Architects KPMB Architects, Chuck Choi, Nico Marques Perkins&Will, Tom Holdsworth, SMMA NBBJ, Chuck Choi, Robert Benson CBT Architects, Stantec, Höweler+Yoon Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Acentech, William Rawn Associates, Architects p 21 Brad Feinknopf p 22 Albert Vecerka-ESTO, Robert Benson p 25 Warren Jagger p 25 Unsplash, NASA
Acentech Reflections 2021 | 27
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