I lead the acoustics division in NDY’s Wellington office. I have comprehensive experience and knowledge in the acoustic engineering space, giving me an unparalleled skill set in the Wellington market with which to help my clients. Working across a project’s design and construction phases, and especially construction verification across various sectors, is always interesting. I wholeheartedly enjoy working in the acoustics space which has so many different facets for application. No two days as an acoustics consultant are the same which keeps life interesting. I believe the importance of acoustics is only going to increase within this intensifying world.
A significant civil, arts and public development which I played a key role on acoustically, is the national archives project in Wellington, New Zealand. Currently under construction, Archives Wellington is a new archives repository, replacing the existing and out-of-date facility with a world class new home to store and exhibit our country’s national treasures. The building combines five floors of repository, public areas, and offices with three floors of conservation.
The challenge of building a world-leading archival facility in the middle of a seismically prone zone was an interesting challenge from a design perspective. Detailing on horizontal deflection and inter-storey drift was of particular importance from an acoustics perspective, which needed a high level of coordination across the project team as a whole.
I lead the acoustic design for the architectural and mechanical acoustics, which involved extensive acoustic involvement for the generator design, audio visual suite design and other specialist spaces. The Archives project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work on a repository facility. It will be many moons before another of its type and significance will be designed and constructed within NZ (if not the world).
Areas of expertise:
Vibration analysis, environmental noise, construction noise and building acoustics with a particular emphasis on architectural and building services acoustics for buildings.
Concept image of the new Archives New Zealand Building in Wellington supplied courtesy of Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand. Read more about the project on the Archives New Zealand website.
