According to the Leesman Index’s The Workplace Experience Revolution survey (Part 2), “…noise levels remain a widespread and highly problematic issue, with a catastrophic average satisfaction score of just 33.4% across all new workplaces…” So how do we change this? Albert Maniscalco discusses the various strategies for conquering workplace acoustical issues. Read all about it on Buildings.com!
https://www.buildings.com/articles/43347/strategies-workplace-acoustics
January 25, 2022 – Trinity Consultants announces that Cerami & Associates, a global leader in acoustic and technology consulting, has joined the Trinity family. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the field since its founding in 1965, Cerami delivers engineering consulting expertise in noise and vibration control, audiovisual design, security systems, IT infrastructure, construction monitoring, and acoustical virtual reality for every building type. Cerami’s primary clients include global architecture/design firms and real estate development companies.
Cerami principals Victoria Cerami and James Perry will continue to lead their team of 75+ engineering and support professionals. Together, Trinity and Cerami synergies will expand service capabilities for clients, particularly in the area of carbon management for building designers on the Cerami side, and noise/acoustics capabilities for Trinity’s industrial clients.
Paul Greywall, Trinity Director of Corporate Development stated, “As the gold standard in delivering acoustical consulting, Cerami & Associates is a great addition to the Trinity family of specialty technical services. Vicki and Jim have created a unique organization that is respected for its expertise and employee-focused culture. This milestone adds another foundational component to Trinity’s building sciences platform of acoustics, facility commissioning, and related specialty engineering capabilities.”
“The decision to join forces with Trinity is unequivocally the right step for Cerami,” Vicki Cerami said. “Along with its unparalleled expertise and focus on responsiveness, Trinity is as people and client focused as we are. Trinity has deliberately acquired leading companies with specialized technical expertise and synergized them to drive growth. We are excited to leverage Trinity’s global footprint and EHS focus, to help expand its building sciences platform, and to create additional opportunities for our team.”
You’ll be seeing, and more likely hearing, more about Cerami, the renowned acoustic design and technology consulting firm widely recognized as pioneering the acoustic industry. They are the acoustic designers for iconic projects including Hudson Yards (NYC), Comcast Tower (Philly), CIBC Square (Toronto), Fannie Mae (DC), LaGuardia Airport (NYC) and most recently, One Vanderbilt (NYC). In Chicago, notable buildings are 191 North Wacker Drive, Salesforce Tower Chicago and River Point.
Starting in 2022, Greg Miller will be joining Cerami’s Leadership and building out the acoustics, technology, and security teams in Chicago. “Greg is a Cerami boomerang – he started his career with us in 1996 – and we are thrilled to have him back,” said Victoria Cerami, CEO of her eponymous firm.
Greg has twenty-five years of experience as an acoustician on major projects in the US and around the world. His portfolio includes leadership of the acoustic and technology designs for many corporate, cultural, and institutional clients including Kirkland & Ellis LLP, PNC Bank, BP Americas, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Perelman Center for the Performing Arts, Guthrie Theater, Lookingglass Theater, The University of Illinois, Brown University, Wheaton College, and Northwestern University.
Greg is regularly invited to lecture at universities and train the next generation of acoustic designers. His innovative work on the development of auralization techniques dovetails with Cerami’s significant contribution to making the subjectivity of sound, objective, through our Acoustic Reality System™.
“Many of our clients have been asking us when we are going to have permanent feet on the ground in the Midwest. We can’t wait to let them know of our expansion and look forward to introducing them to Greg,” adds Jim Perry, Managing Director and 20-year Cerami veteran.
Acoustics played a key role in the development of One Vanderbilt’s SUMMIT. Kenzo Digital, the immersive storyteller, has taken the 1,401-foot-high canvas of SUMMIT and created one of the largest, most mind-bending art experiences in the world. Acoustically, Cerami’s role was to give him that canvas.
The journey to “Air” (a mirrored 600 square meter space offering unprecedented views of Manhattan) is built around the concept of creating an immersive experience using sight and sound. Mixing sound, lighting, and production design, the complex interplay between the mirrors and skyline creates the impression of limitless space.
Cerami was brought in to make sure that the acoustic fidelity of Kenzo Digital’s vision was brought to life while maintaining the acoustic integrity of the building. Because sound is subjective (in other words, you have to hear it for yourself), Cerami’s team of acoustic and simulation experts were able to take the output of complex calculations and turn them into subjective experiences from the entry level up to the SUMMIT, using our 3D modeling software. This allowed SL Green, the developers, to “experience” each space before it was built.
Perhaps the biggest acoustic challenge was the floor-to-ceiling mirrors that make up “Air.” Not surprisingly, mirrors create huge challenges for acoustic designers (due to these surfaces being acoustically, as well as visually, reflective) and it was up to Cerami to guide the design team on what to expect in the finished space. Cerami simulated the acoustic experience in a full-scale mockup of the space, adding in the effect of various levels of occupancy, to educate and guide the design team.
Of particular concern was how to ensure the dramatic music emanating from the SUMMIT elevators would not permeate the building’s core shafts and impact tenant floors as they travel between the Welcome Zone and SUMMIT areas throughout the day. This was accomplished by acoustically modeling the elevator as it passes by each tenant floor using the source audio track. These results were presented as a Virtual Reality simulation for their clients’ approval and sign off.
Much is being made about the SUMMIT, but the same acoustic care was given to all 73 floors of the base building and first-class amenities throughout. This included the challenge to create an intimate setting inside Le Pavillon, Daniel Boulud’s modern ground floor restaurant featuring 40-foot ceiling heights. Among Cerami’s solutions was a custom cantilevered acoustic ceiling, creating a vibe that changes from expansive to intimate, as guests make their way to their tables, ensuring the ability to carry on conversations once seated.
Cerami has a fun, engaging and communicative culture. We are a tight-knit group of engineers, techies, musicians, innovators who enjoy one another’s company. When the pandemic hit and the world was forced to swiftly migrate to a new normal, we (the Cerami marketing team) needed a way to safeguard our spirit. Working from Home Weekly, an internal newsletter to keep staff informed, connected and engaged, was born. What we thought would last a few weeks, turned into a year’s worth of newsletters documenting the intricacies of an unprecedented and unforgettable year.
Cerami was honored last Thursday night by the Society for Marketing Profession Services (SMPS) for best Newsletter in the New York AEC Community. We congratulate all of the winners of the 2021 Marketing Communications Awards!
