Acoustics
Meet Dave, an acoustic consultant . . .
After I finished my physics degree I knew I wanted to develop a career in acoustics, but I wasn’t quite sure how to get my foot in the door. I had researched and emailed six acoustics firms across the US, and Raj Patel from Arup in New York was the only person to send a response. Raj suggested that I pursue a Master’s of Science in acoustics and put me in contact with a recent graduate of the ISVR on his team, and told me to keep in touch. When I completed the program, I felt comfortable coming to work with the people who saw my potential and had already invested time in me, long before my first day in the office.
Most of my time is split between producing 3D acoustic computer models and going on site to physically measure the acoustics of various spaces. In both cases, I analyze the results and sometimes produce an auralization in a specialized immersive listening room that we call the SoundLab. We then recreate how a particular space sounds, or will sound, for clients using the data from the models or measurements.
I learned a lot of the modeling and auralization techniques while working on a theater and atrium in the Stanford Office Complex in St. Croix (Virgin Islands). Other acoustic models I have worked on include the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, The Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts, and The Doha Convention Center and Tower in Qatar.
I am currently on the design teams for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, the J.K. Tett Centre Complex at Queens University in Ontario, and the Brooklyn College Performing Arts Center in New York.
I’m happy with the range of interesting and important projects that I get to work on, and how quickly I was exposed to them. As a graduate, it’s helpful that people in locations all over the world are keen to share their experience through internal websites, forums, and video conferencing. I also work closely with other Arup disciplines, which makes me think more holistically about the overall design process.
What do acoustic consultants at Arup do?
Our work is primarily in design for the built environment working closely with architects, designers, planners and engineers in a wide range of disciplines. Some projects that we undertake would be obvious to the casual observer, for example acoustic design for concert halls or other performing arts buildings – making them sound the way they need to for musicians and audiences. Other aspects may be less obvious, e.g. optimizing the design of classrooms to ensure good speech intelligibility, isolating buildings from external noise, mitigating noise from subway trains penetrating into buildings, mitigating noise from building ventilation systems, controlling vibration in bridge designs, designing PA systems for airports so that people can understand the messages. If you think of sound, noise and vibration in the widest sense, how you listen and what you hear, both inside and outside buildings or job, is to optimize, enhance, mitigate or control it, depending on the circumstance.
The crucial aspect in good acoustic design is that it requires close integration with other disciplines from the outset. This is the way we achieve innovative design solutions, at minimum cost, and with a view to sustainability of the environment – not only in use of materials, but also by minimizing additional noise emission to the environment.
What would my first few years be like?
The following description lists a fairly typical approach to foundational training in your discipline; however business needs, project task availability and your training interests will also influence the scope and order of training.
For your first six months, you will learn the following skills:
- Crucial aspects of measuring, quantifying and analyzing sound, noise and vibration
- Key acoustical design software skills (3D CAD modeling, 3D acoustics models and acoustical analysis) directly applied to projects
- Learning to understand codes and standards
- Learning to review engineering and architectural drawings
- Attending meetings with clients and design teams
- How to interpret and respond to design issues using listening and visual demonstrations to clients
During your second six months, these skills will be applied to a number of projects in a wide range of sectors. You will join design teams in different stages of the project process, in conception, early design, during contract document creation and site visits, to understand the construction process and commissioning and testing of completed projects.
By the start of your second year, you will have a fairly well-rounded appreciation of what the role of an acoustic consultant is in these various design stages. You will progress to more complex projects requiring more rigorous analysis and evaluation with a focus on creating innovative solutions. You will write reports, give demonstrations to clients in the Arup SoundLab and produce specification, drawings and sketches illustrating design intent. You will also develop analysis tools using MatLab and MaxMSP, write your first proposals for projects, and be responsible for undertaking them from concept to completion. You will begin to teach the skills you have learned to new graduates.
Want to join us?
The ideal candidate for an entry-level position would have the following characteristics:
Technical abilities
| Necessary | Preferred |
| A first degree (BSc, BEng, MSc) in Acoustics OR A first degree in music, architecture, physics, mechanical or electrical engineering and a second (Masters) degree in Acoustics or a closely related subject |
3.6 GPA or higher |
| Fundamental of acoustics, fundamentals of vibration, engineering acoustics, noise control, digital signal processing, electroacoustics, human responses to acoustics and vibration | |
| CATT, EASE, Odeon, Matlab, ProTools, Audition, MaxMSP, Excel, Visual Basic., AutoCad, 3D modeling skills (Rhino, SketchUp, etc.) | |
| A background/training in music practice, playing of a musical instrument can be useful |
Please note that acoustics courses can be hard to find and a year abroad for a Masters may be needed. You can contact Arup Acoustics for ideas on where to go for the best courses.
Intangible and interpersonal characteristics
| Necessary | Preferred |
| Professional demeanor | Evidence of past internship or extracurricular activity in the field |
| Skills in planning and organizing | Proven ability to perform in a deadline environment |
| Ability to communicate thoughts and technical ideas in an accessible way | Past history of technical presentations and technical writing |
| Attitude of taking initiative, enthusiasm and eagerness to learn | Evidence of personal investment in academic or extracurricular field |
Click here to apply for a Graduate Acoustic Consultant position with Arup.
