CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Feb. 19, 2015 – Acentech, a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary acoustics, audiovisual systems design, and vibration consulting firm, has been selected to provide consulting services for the addition and historic renovation of Richardson Memorial Hall at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Collaborating with the award-winning architecture firm KieranTimberlake, Acentech’s services include architectural acoustics, mechanical system noise and vibration control, and information technology (IT) infrastructure consulting for the historic building, which is the home of Tulane’s School of Architecture. Designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the 30,000 SF addition and renovated Richardson Memorial Hall will become a model building on the Tulane campus for creating a learning environment that fosters innovation and creativity, while incorporating sustainable practices and emerging technologies within an historic structure.
Built in 1908, Richardson Memorial Hall is a 50,000 SF, five-story brick and limestone building, prominently situated on a quad near a main entrance to the campus. The historic building did not originally incorporate air conditioning, and the later addition of air conditioning equipment compromised many of the school’s sound sensitive spaces. With this complete interior renovation, the building will be repositioned as a modern school of architecture with greatly improved acoustics. Acentech’s acoustics scope includes multi-purpose spaces, classrooms, library, resource center, fabrication shop, and offices.
To bring this venerable building into its second century of service, Acentech is also providing comprehensive planning and design of the IT infrastructure and wireless local area network (WLAN). Acentech's radio frequency predictive modeling software enables real simulation of access points and client traffic to forecast both the amount of bandwidth and inherent limitations of the WLAN. This provides realistic expectations for the faculty and staff, as the school uses bandwidth intensive software for graphics, computer-aided design, three-dimensional modeling, imaging, and renderings.
The project includes sound isolation for the building façade, related to noise from an existing cooling tower atop the adjacent parking garage, as well as sound isolation of the architectural studios from the cooling tower.
About Acentech
Acentech is a multi-disciplinary acoustics, audiovisual systems design, and vibration consulting firm providing a wide range of services. The company serves a diverse group of clients from its offices in Cambridge, Mass.; Trevose, Penn.; and Los Angeles, Calif. With a professional staff of more than 50 consultants, Acentech is one of the oldest and largest organizations of its type: an unequaled resource to engineers, architects, and designers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.acentech.com or on Twitter at @AcentechTweet.