Sound Off

Pitch Perspectives

Getting Your Acoustics Pitch Perfect in a Performance Venue

Posted by Payam Ashtiani /

Whether you’re going to see a play or a concert in a performance venue, listening to a lecture or attending a service in a place of worship, acoustics play a critical role in determining your enjoyment of the experience. To understand acoustics, we need to understand our ears. This is the first post in our technical blog series: Pitch Perspectives! Where we’ll explore the various elements and parameters required to ensure good interior room acoustics of various types of facilities to provide positive acoustic experiences.

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lobby of mixed-use residential building condo

Changing the Shape of Mixed-Use Residential Projects

Posted by Nicholas Sylvestre-Williams /

Mixed-use residential units offer city dwellers the luxury of being able to grab a bite for lunch, go to the gym, drop their dog off at daycare and enjoy live jazz without getting in their car. In many cities where space is a premium, mixed-use residential buildings are becoming increasingly common. Developers combine retail, residential, and commercial uses into one vibrant location. But convenient amenities shouldn’t be a burden. Read more about challenges that need to be addressed before construction and what to consider when building mixed-use residential spaces.

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Get it Right the First Time: The Transition from OMB to LPAT

Posted by Nicholas Sylvestre-Williams /

For decades, Ontario residents with concerns about proposed developments went through the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), the province’s independent, quasi-judicial administrative tribunal that handled decisions on land use planning issues and other matters. Last April, the OMB was replaced with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). Learn how the new LPAT has changed the appeal process and the significantly impact to whether your project is approved or rejected.

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Failures = Innovation

Posted by Steve Titus /

As one year ends and another begins, many workplaces like to reflect on the previous year and to celebrate their team and its achievements. At Aercoustics, we celebrate failures. Yes, you read that right. The biggest screw ups of the year are recognized with a trophy at our holiday party. This award is not meant to be negative. It is all in good fun and there is no shame in taking home the hardware. We do this to celebrate innovative ideas and learning. Our team works very hard and we want to reassure everyone that mistakes are part of the learning process.

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Rock Out Toronto! Acoustic Design for New Recording Studio

Posted by Steve Titus /

Canada has a vibrant arts scene and many at Aercoustics count themselves as part of it, so we are ardent supporters. There is a critical shortage of rehearsal spaces for local musicians in cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Some of the already limited rehearsal spots have been swallowed up by re-development, leaving even fewer options for bands looking for a place to jam. That’s why we were thrilled to have the opportunity to work on Lynx Music…

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Aercoustics Wind Turbine Noise Impact Assessments

Turn, Turn, Turn!

Posted by Payam Ashtiani /

All Wind Turbine Noise Impact Assessments Are Not Created Equal. When it comes to green power alternatives, wind power is a popular and growing option. It’s easy to see why: it is clean, affordable, and endlessly renewable. In fact, electricity from wind energy is one of the fastest growing methods of electrical generation in the world. And Canada is now the fifth-largest market in the world for the installation of new wind turbines.

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Love Thy Neighbour

Posted by Michael Medal /

Many contractors face complaints from noise and vibration that can threaten to delay or shut down their construction project. Some construction companies even found themselves fighting lawsuits launched by homeowners claiming the vibration damaged their property. Proactive noise and vibration monitoring can help mitigate this risk – and keep the peace.

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Don’t Let Noise Eat Into Your Restaurant Business

Posted by Steve Titus /

As a whole, the restaurant and food service industry is a notoriously tough one. From well-known franchises to an independent establishment, the struggle is real and the numbers are bleak. Half of restaurants fail within four years and only make two per cent in profit.

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Industry can cause interruptive Environmental Noise

Stop Losing Sleep to Your Noisy Neighbours

Posted by Bob Rimrott /

If it seems like we have been making a lot of noise in our blog lately about noise, you’re right. It is a timely issue. Across the country, municipalities and ministries are repeatedly called to intervene when residents complain about noise disrupting their peace and quiet.

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Open offices present interesting challenges for room acoustics

Design an Open Office that Doesn’t Suck

Posted by Steve Titus /

Open office layouts are no longer a tech or creative sector trend. They are becoming much more common in a variety of workplaces and for good reason. With proper design and room acoustics, open office spaces can provide a collaborative and efficient workplace while saving a lot of space.

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Noise Complaints in a Commercial / Office environment

Keeping the Peace at Work

Posted by Steve Titus /

Noise concerns—and noise complaints—are usually associated with residential properties because everyone has the right to peace and quiet in their own home. Commercial properties are often forgotten since they are a place of work.

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A noise audit may be required for your large industrial facilitiy

Cheat Sheet on How to Pass Your Noise Audit

Posted by Derek Flake /

Environmental noise pollution in Ontario has been regulated since the 1970s. But it wasn’t until years later when residential developments started to encroach on industrial sites that noise pollution became a concern, forcing plant owners to take a long and hard look at the impact on surrounding areas.

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Decibel measurement gauge, measuring noise for Environmental Compliance Approval

Environmental Compliance for Business 101

Posted by Derek Flake /

In Ontario, any business that releases pollutants into the air, land or water or stores, transports or disposes of waste, is required to have an environmental compliance approval from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).

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Wood buildings and houses can pose interesting problems for noise control

Timber! Wood Buildings Make a Comeback

Posted by Tim Preager /

Wood is an abundant, sustainable and affordable natural resource, which makes it suitable for many types of construction. A report on mid-rise wood frame buildings, commissioned by the BILD, estimated the cost savings of using wood frame for six-storey buildings could amount to 15 to 20 per cent less than a concrete structure.

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