The Power of Silence: Managing On-Site Power Generator Noise
In 2005, Hurricane Wilma wiped out power across Florida causing businesses to close and grocery stores to lose inventory due to spoilage. Residents were left frustrated by long lines and…
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LEEDing WELL: Secure Sustainability Certification with Acoustics in Mind
Designing for sustainability and wellness in the built environment has become increasingly popular, which has given rise to multiple certification programs. While many projects have remained focused on achieving LEED…
Balancing Aesthetics and Acoustics at Osler Bluff Ski Club
How to Ensure Your Acoustics Don’t Go Downhill Nestled on the shores of Georgian Bay in the Blue Mountains, Osler Bluff is a private ski club that prides itself on…
Been there, done that: Key Learnings from Ontario as New York Fast Tracks Renewable Energy Projects
Since the mid-2000s, electricity generation in the U.S. has slowly shifted from coal to natural gas and renewables. Renewable energy growth may accelerate in 2021 since the new administration campaigned…
Don’t Let Concerns Fall on Deaf Ears: How to Manage Wind Farm Noise Complaints
Home to the world’s ninth largest wind generating fleet, Canada is a global leader in wind energy with strong and stable growth year after year. According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CANWEA) (now known as the Canadian Renewables Association), Canada finished 2019 with 13,413 MW of wind energy capacity, enough to power approximately 3.4 million homes…
Opening the Curtain: Reimagining Performing Arts Centres After the Pandemic
The pandemic has impacted just about every part of the economy in Canada. The entertainment industry, including Performing Arts Centres is no exception. By all accounts, the industry has suffered…
Career Growth: Advance Your Career Within a Company
If you talk to people at Aercoustics, you will find many who started their career as an intern and experienced tremendous career growth as he or she climbed the ranks. We recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of one of our colleagues who started his career here as an intern…
Acoustic Sciences: A Sound Career for Musicians
If you work in the acoustical sciences field, you usually have colleagues passionate about music. Whether you play an instrument, sing or produce music, acoustics is a great career choice…
Not Your Grandmother’s Church
How Music is Challenging the Traditional Church Design For most people, their vision of an old church is a cathedral with stone halls and stained-glass windows. Early church design is…
How to Keep Your Transit Project on Track
The growth of cities is increasing the demands on transit systems. Whether it is above ground or below, municipalities everywhere are facing increased pressure to enhance transit services and expedite their transit projects to alleviate the traffic on existing systems and busy roads.
Can You Repeat That? Optimizing Acoustics with Speech Intelligibility
Humans have used speech to communicate for thousands of years. Our brains and ears have evolved in tandem to optimize our ability to communicate via speech. When it comes to making different sounds, our vocal reproduction system is quite a marvel of versatility. For example, the Taa language spoken in parts of Botswana and Namibia is believed by most linguists to have the largest sound inventory with more than 100 consonants.
How Engineering Peer Reviews Can Help Reduce Risk
Mistakes happen. In the best-case scenario, we apologize and move on. But when it comes to mistakes on the job, whether it be in healthcare, education, law or engineering, a mistake can be costly.
Starting a New Job in a Pandemic
Finding Creative Ways to Train and Integrate New Team Members While Working Apart. As the end of my Mechanical Engineering program came, I eagerly awaited the “Iron Ring” ceremony, a ritual which is the calling of the engineer. My big day came on March 7th and was followed by several big parties. But one week later, the province was locked down.
Drilling it Down: Borehole Vibration Testing to Minimize Transit Noise and Vibration
If you live in a large city like Toronto, you have no doubt heard or felt the subway system running underground. It probably doesn’t bother you if you’re just passing…
You’re Building a Condo, WHERE?
As the density in cities increase, so does the demand for housing. But developers need a suitable piece of land to build. Suitable or good land means it is away from industrial areas and noisy transportation. For years, parking lots in the city’s core were ideal. But they have become increasingly scarce and developers are having to be creative to make do with the land available.
Can Your Company Culture Thrive During COVID-19?
Trying to contain the spread of COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we live and work. It is affecting how teams work and communicate. Like others, at Aercoustics, we are…
Top 3 Things the Building Industry Needs to Watch for in 2020
A new year and a new decade have arrived bringing new hopes and expectations, both personally and professionally. It’s also a good time to reflect on the previous year. For…
Top 5 Things You Should Know Before Building a Mass Timber Project
Mass timber has been used widely for more than two decades in Europe but it wasn’t until 2012 when mass timber construction made its debut in North America. Since the first construction, interest and adoption has been swift. And now thanks to changes to the National Building Code (NBC), construction is likely to accelerate with the height restrictions set to double in the New Year.
Don’t Believe Everything That You Hear: Debunking Myths About Acoustics
Acoustics is subjective. Whenever I explain the concept of acoustics, I tend to share this: Sound is me cutting my lawn. Noise is my neighbour cutting his lawn. Music is…
Why Volunteering Makes Good Business Sense
This past year marks the 20th anniversary of Canstruction Toronto, a design and build competition that challenges teams to create structures made entirely from canned foods that are donated to…