Dennis Noson, Ph.D.
Dennis joined BRC Acoustics & Technology Consulting in 1997 as a Senior Consultant specializing in the design of auditorium acoustics, mechanical system noise control and analysis and measurement of vibration in sensitive environments.
Experience
With over 35 years experience in architectural acoustics and analysis of noise and vibration, Dennis has worked on a wide variety of projects at Microsoft, Boeing, and multiple university and private research facilities, and has consulted on the acoustical design for diverse landmark projects – the new Seattle US Federal Courthouse, for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and for the Amgen (Helix) Campus (pharmaceutical research), for both Seattle and Tacoma Art Museums, as well as acoustical design for theater and music spaces, including ACT’s Geary Theater (San Francisco), the General Jackson Showboat (Nashville), and the Music Man Theater (Mason City, Iowa).
Specialty technical areas of expertise include:
- prediction of subjective attributes of music in acoustical spaces, such as recital halls, auditoriums, and worship spaces
- aircraft noise isolation for commercial and residential structures near airports
- outdoor noise prediction for large industrial sites (co-generation projects, steam turbines, and industrial fans)
- mechanical system noise and vibration control.
- low-frequency vibration measurement and vibration control design for MRI, nanotech facilities, and research labs requiring low- vibration optical tables and other imaging equipment
Education
- Ph.D. (Acoustics), Kōbe University, Japan
- Master of Architecture, University of Washington
- Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Publications & Conference Papers
Dennis has conducted basic research in perceptual responses of singers to varying acoustical environments, and published scientific papers on new methods for measuring and analyzing sound fields in auditorium, recital, and studio spaces. Current investigations are on-going, to determine importance of voice self-evaluation by solo and choral singers.
- Who Says the Bogey Man Can’t Get You: Aspects of Plant Equipment Failures and Ultrasound Environments at a Cancer Research Facility, IFMA Industries Forum, Atlanta, GA, 2007
- A Field Study of Aircraft Noise Impacts on an Airport Zone School District, Institute of Noise Control Engineering USA, NoiseCon 2003 Proceedings, Cleveland, OH
- Melisma Singing and Preferred Stage Acoustics for Singers, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 258: 473-485, 2002
- Preferred Stage Acoustics for Singers, 17th International Congress on Acoustics, Rome, Italy, 2001
- Singer Responses to Sound Fields with a Simulated Reflection, Journal of Sound and Vibration, 232: 39-51, 2000
- Designing Small, Multi-Purpose Auditoriums to Enhance Binaural Dissimilarity, Sabine Symposium Proceedings, Acoustical Society of America, Cambridge, MA, 1997
- A Study of Improvements to Acoustical Conditions for Singers, Joint ASA/ICA Conference Proceedings, Acoustical Society of America, Seattle, 1998
- A Comparison of Measured Cross Correlations in Small Auditoriums, Music and Concert Hall Acoustics, Academic Press, London, 1997
- Music and Concert Hall Acoustics, Academic Press, London, 1997 (co-editor Dr. Yoichi Ando)
Instructor / Seminar Educator
- University of Washington, Seattle: architectural studio reviewer & upper level undergraduate seminar instructor, 1991 to 2001
- The Evergreen College, Olympia: special projects instructor, 1983
- Scale Model Measurements and the Acoustics of Greek and Roman Theaters, Department of Architecture, University of Washington, Seattle, 1999
- Benaroya Concert Hall: A Shoe Box for Seattle, International Seismic Engineering Conference, Seattle, 1998, and MIT Club of Puget Sound, Seattle, 1999
- Leonardo’s Prescience in Acoustical Science, Leonardo’s Symphonic Legacy panel symposium, Seattle Art Museum’s exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, Seattle, 1997
- Wall Reflection Audio Enhancement System for Auditorium Acoustics, Seattle Chapter ASA, 1997
- Designing Amall Auditoriums for Improved Music Listening, Department of Hearing Science, Bloedel Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1995