Since Aercoustics’ inception in 1971, we have become Canada’s premier engineering firm in acoustic design, noise control and vibration control. And increasingly well known around the world: in the United States, Central America, Europe, Australia, China and the Middle East.
Here’s a visual overview of the last four decades at Aercoustics:
Roly Andrews launches Aercoustics Engineering Limited.
Bruce Robertson, Kevin Smith and Werner Richarz become (and remain) Aercoustics’ first employees. Marc Bracken, Vince Gambino, John O’Keefe and Bob Rimrott graduate from respective engineering programs.
Marc, Vince, John and Bob buy Aercoustics and work from 4 desks crammed in the front room of a house. The “Shut-up Shoe” is first launched.
Marc heads up the Toronto Transit Commission’s first major vibration study by a Canadian firm. John’s work on The Princess of Wales Theatre winds up – “Clear as a bell!” enters Aercoustics parlance. Chifley Tower in Sydney opens with Bob’s 400-tonne tuned mass damper (TMD) design. Mohan Barman becomes a Principal and our stalwarts Iwona Stasiewicz and Tony Gambino join the firm.
Vince and Werner design one of the world’s first outdoor active noise cancellation (ANC) systems. First Middle East project: Rimex Auditorium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rapid growth prompts Aercoustics move to 50 Ronson Drive, Toronto.
The aforementioned ANC system wins Canadian Consulting Engineers Award of Honour for technical innovation.
An Aercoustics team led by John wins another CCE Award of Merit, this time for acoustical renovation of Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre.
"Fruit Day" is instituted to supplant cookies and doughnuts as Aercoustics' snacks of record.
Aercoustics' office manager, now executive assistant, Alison Trifoli joins the firm.
Canadian Acoustical Association Directors Award for "Best Scientific Paper in Acoustics" is shared between our John and the National Research Council’s John (Bradley).
Work begins with Diamond and Schmitt Architects and Sound Space Design on the Four Seasons Centre opera house in Toronto. Also, the Juma Al Majid Taj Palace noise control project - a hotel/convention complex by the Dubai airport.
Sister company, Echologics introduced, offering new technology that sonically locates water main leaks. Roly's "transition year" has become 10 because there's so much fun to be had.
Audio demonstration of anticipated subway intrusion convinces Royal Conservatory of Music of the need to float the concert and rehearsal hall on rubber pads.
Work begins on $10M Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto’s Distillery District, led by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB). 20 Gothic, a luxury condominium tower, is planned with a subway tunnel as its foundation - Aercoustics designs building isolation system.
Aercoustics' first "Snowboard Day".
Work begins on Art Gallery of Ontario renovation, designed by Frank Gehry. Aercoustics wins United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Architecture Honor Award for the Young Centre.
Aercoustics wins Schreyer Award for work on the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Mohan gears down his work duties but becomes Professor Emeritus at "The University of Mo", his series of weekly in-house lectures.
TMD project for stairway at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) begins. Steve Titus becomes the firm's fifth Principal. Aercoustics staff now numbers 25.
RCM project is completed and subway is inaudible. A wobbly staircase in the lobby is tamed by Aercoustics TMD.
Aercoustics mourns the passing of their founding partner, Roly Andrews. The Roly Andrews Scholarship is created, providing summer sailing courses for underprivileged kids.