Thorburn Associates

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Thorburn Associates
Type	Private
Founded	1992
Headquarters	San Francisco, CA United States Offices in Los Angeles, CA & Raleigh-Durham, NC
Key people	Lisa Thorburn, President Steve Thorburn, Principal James Horn, Associate Principal Derek Meares, Associate Principal
Industry	engineering consulting
Website	[1]

Thorburn Associates, Inc. (TA) is a design and engineering firm founded in 1992 by Lisa A. Thorburn and Steven J. Thorburn. TA provides full service acoustical consulting and technology system engineering to architects, facility owners, and end-users around the world. Projects include new construction and renovation for the commercial, corporate, leisure, public, residential, and retail industries. TA is an independent consulting firm--not associated with the sale of any specific brand--offering unbiased designs to improve communication and fully realize the functionality of all projects. Their staff frequently attend industry events and presents technical seminars. The principals are active in the leadership of industry associations at both the local and international level including: International Communications Industry Association; Themed Entertainment Association; Large Format Cinema Association; Society for Marketing Professional Services; and Construction Specifications Institute. Services include: Architectural Acoustic Design; Sound Isolation; Mechanical Noise Control; Audiovisual System Engineering; Data/Telecom Infrastructure Design; Environmental Noise Abatement; and Expert Testimony.

1 History
2 Notable Projects
3 Awards
4 External links

[edit] History

The firm was founded in 1992 by Lisa A. Thorburn and Steven J. Thorburn. Providing services for architectural clients in the areas of acoustical consulting and audiovisual technical system engineering, TA is a single point of contact during design and construction.

1992 – Thorburn Associates founded on April 1

1993 – Lisa Thorburn awarded “Rookie of the Year” by the Construction Specification Institute (CSI)

1994 – Moves to first office on Grove Way in Castro Valley, CA

1995 – Opens Los Angeles, CA office

1995 – Awarded “Best New Service” from International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAPPA) for Binauralization™ - a computer program that models how a space will sound before it is built

1996 – Steve Thorburn awarded “Educator of the Year” by International Communications Industries Association (ICIA)

1998 – Opens North Carolina Office

1999 – First Design firm to become an “ICIA Gold Certified Member Company”

2000 – Received Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) THEA Outstanding Achievement Awards for: Universal Studios “The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man”; Universal Studios “Islands of Adventure”; and Columbus Center of Science and Technology (COSI) audio, video and control system engineering services and acoustical design

2001 – Moves to current location on Baker Road in Castro Valley, CA

2002 – Awarded Themed Entertainment Association THEA Outstanding Achievement Award for Paramount’s Kings Island “Tomb Raider: The Ride”

2002 – Moves North Carolina office to current location in Morrisville (near Raleigh-Durham)

2007 – TA Celebrates 15th Anniversary. Staff expands to 18 and still hiring

2008 – TA posts entry to Wikipedia

[edit] Notable Projects

Bartlett Theatre Anchorage, AK		Camp Snoopy Minneapolis, MN
This new Performing Arts Wing includes rehearsal rooms for band, choir, orchestra, and dance and a 400-seat auditorium with full production capabilities. The rehearsal rooms have audio systems for music recording and playback. The auditorium's sound system includes: capabilities for small presentations with no technical support using a plug and play automatic mixing feature. Larger productions use mixers located either in the control booth or at a mix position in the audience area. The system supports the future addition of front projection video and computer sources.		The acoustical design for this 7-acre center was made to provide a “comfortable family environment” without having the distractions by noise generated by the mini theme park inside the Mall of America.
Elan Pharmaceuticals San Francisco, CA		Federated Department Stores, Inc. Multiple Locations Nationwide
Multiple meeting spaces with videoconferencing: boardroom, videoconferencing room, two medium-sized conference rooms, and presentation room. All spaces had easy-to-use control systems, which integrated technology and facilitated communication within the organization, and with clients and vendors.		One of America’s premier national retailers, operating more than 850 Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. TA provided audio/visual system specifications, and acceptance testing for thirty-four department stores’ multimedia upgrade projects.
Gateway Arch St. Louis, MS		Great Mall of the Bay Area Milpitas, CA
Audio system design for tramcars, queue lines, and upper/lower load areas within Arch. Goal was to upgrade guest experience while developing methods for cross-selling different activities at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Also provided acoustic recommendations for lower load area.		Detailed review of the mall’s audio and paging system. Recommended changes in loudspeaker placement and programming adjustments to enhance intelligibility. Recommendations phased in as funding allows.
Hershey Park Hershey, PA		Market Heights Apartments San Francisco, CA
Provided a turnkey design and oversaw installation of the audio system for the Night Time Spectacular Laser Show.		Reviewed drawings and provided noise control and sound isolation recommendations which will enable project to comply with HUD noise insulation standards. The 46-unit apartment site overlooks the Highway 101 and 280 Interchange.
On Lok Larkin Senior Living San Francisco, CA		PG&E Headquarters Milpitas, CA
Analysis of environmental and HVAC noise impacting a 30+ unit senior housing and community center building which overlooks a busy S.F. intersection. The facility includes dental and hospital services for the residents.		Audiovisual design for remodel of 2 main rooms located in an historic high-rise. Auditorium has raked seating for 500; ceiling-mounted projector displays, computer graphics and video, supported by distributed sound system and ADA hearing assistance system. Satellite feed allows corporate television division to use facility as remote site for corporate activities.
Pinnacle Systems San Jose, CA		Riverside County Courthouse Riverside, CA
Noise control for a large rooftop HVAC unit, room acoustics and sound isolation for a large office building remodel. The building has training rooms, a board and conference room, open-plan engineering areas and private offices. The client was concerned with controlling the transfer of noise between these areas because of the exposed roof structure design.		Seismic retrofit while maintaining historic quality. TA retained to ensure acoustics and audiovisual system design was successful. Acoustic concerns included reverberation and echoes caused by hard surfaces and the geometrical design of the main rotunda dome.
San Francisco Federal Building San Francisco, CA		SAP Technology Solutions Center Palo Alto, CA
A landmark project for the federal government, this building embodies a commitment to urban renewal and community spirit while providing a progressive working environment. Initiates a new generation of highly energy efficient federal projects by reducing overall energy consumption by as much as 40% below code requirements.		Recognized as a leader in providing collaborative business solutions for all types of industries and for every major market. Center provides appropriate technology to hold videoconferences, demonstrations, and training. Includes two Presentation/Video Conference Rooms, Demo Room/Theater, and Lobby/Entrance Display System.
St. Patrick’s Church Las Vegas, NV		Turnberry Towers Las Vegas, NV
Room acoustics to control echoes in a new church sanctuary. Acoustical recommendations included finish materials and angles, plus sound isolation. Other services covered mechanical noise and vibration control.		Acoustical consulting for this luxury high-rise. TA developed party wall, floor/ceiling constructions, and other sound isolations to help limit the amount of noise transferred between units.
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure: Spiderman Orlando, FL
Acoustical evaluation and development of performance specification for dark ride. Sound isolation between scenes and control of mechanical noise and vibration critical to success of ride.

[edit] Awards

Personal Work:
- Professional Education and Training Committee Award "Educator of the Year", 1996-97 Infocomm.org. InfoComm. Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- First Place - Systems and Facilities Design, 1991, project: CSA Audiovisual Presentation Studio
- Award for Systems and Facilities Design, 1990, project: City of Fremont’s Council Chambers Audiovisual Upgrade
Themed Entertainment Association THEA Award:
- Awarded Themed Entertainment Association THEA Outstanding Achievement Award for Paramount's King's Island "Tomb Raider: The Ride" 2002
- Universal Studios "Amazing Adventures of Spiderman," 2000
- Universal Studios "Islands of Adventure," 2000
- Columbus Center of Science and Technology (COSI), audio, video and control system engineering services and acoustical design 2000
Building of America Award, 2007, project: The Mountain View Senior Center
Northern California Region’s Most Important New Construction/ Renovation, 2007, project: San Francisco Federal Office Building, General Service Administration
AIA Winner of Architecture & Excellence Award, 2007, project: Plaza Apartments
SUGEN, Inc., South San Francisco, Ca was awarded First Gold LEED Certified Biotech Lab, and was also awarded:
- AIA San Mateo County/Sustainable San Mateo County Green Building Award, 2006
- SAMCEDA Awards of Excellence, Environmental Action Award, 2005